Tobacco Documents Online

INTER-OFFICE CORRESPONDENCE - |';;4 ,'~k "' ~ / ~!~ . ~ ~ , April 20, 1983 TO: E. A. Horrigan, Jr. ~'~ G. H. Long J. W. Johnston S. B. Witt, III C. A. Tucker FROM: Gene Ainsworth SUBJECT: Code of Cigarette Sampling Practices New York State Representative Pete Grannis, chief sponsor of most of the anti-tobacco legislation in that state, has indicated that he will with- draw his bill to ban cigarette sampling if the industry's sampling code is revised to include a provision that cigarettes will be given to smokers only. No specific language has been suggested for such a new provision however, the intent is clear -- persons distributing cigarette samples would qualify each prospective recipient by asking, "are you a smoker?" I understand that this qualification procedure is currently being practiced by all RJRT sampling vendors. The New York situation raises the policy question of whether the code should be revised to include such a provision. From a Public Affairs viewpoint, this addition would be useful in addressing the often made charge that cigarette manufacturers indiscriminately give samples to non-smokers. Jim Johnston and Sam Witt have indicated that they have no objections to such a revision in the code. This matter will probably be considered by the TI Committee of Counsel and Executive Committees at their next meetings. Gene Ainsworth GA/jld