FTC Joe Camel Documents
What Causes Smokers to Select Their First Brand
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WHAT CAUSES SMOKERS TO SELECT THEIR FIRST BRAND
A. STARTING AGE
• over 50~ bcfore 18
........ ~' 20
" ~.-~" 25+
~ ~' med:Lan age
_4-
source - Dept. HEW
15
lOOt lOOt
17 19
• over 80t before 21
• virtually all by 25
women - • ~end ~o beg£n a~ a slightly olde=
- recent data suggests w~en are
- b~Innlng to 'smoke at a younger
" ' Age Started Gmoking
Men Women
CX 25-A
WILLIAM E$TY COMPANY, IN~.
RJM053055
74M00656

B. INITIAL REASONS FOR SMOKING
• sources are consistent in identifying one or
mora of uhe ~ollowing as the essentlal reason(s}
for smoking
• reason's given by an individual are seldom clear
and definitive
Conformance -
• probably most prevalent reason
• influence of close friend or peers
- very strong in teen years
among men
- symbolic of rugged masculinity
- want to impress and be accepted
• to be less a targe~ of aggression (defensive)
• effect appearance of maturity, sophistication,
manliness% sexual
2. Support -
.... ~ - overcome/hide nervousness
~-~ - smokers view themselves as excessively verbal,
.~ extroverted, easily bored
. during major transition in life -- going away
to college, facing an educational or
soclal crisis
• smoking heips to overcome stress
- psychologically .
image
• by bolstering self-
- psyslologically . . . by relaxing or
stlmulating
WILLIAM ESTY COMPANY, INC.
CX 25-B ,
~JM0~)30~6
74M00657

3. £n~oyment -
• mimply enjoy taste
- of c£ga~tte alone
- enhances specific occasions
after/at meals/snacks
work breaks
pensive moments/interludes
• older a person is when he s~arts the more
likely he smokes for enjoyment
4. To Show Off-
-° • less frequent reason
• ::~~ " -- males -- project a tougher appearance
~.,.,,.~.~ .... •females -- appear sexually-precocious
.... . hard to separate from Conformance and
" ..... Support r~asons
5: TO Rebel Against Authority
6. ~sfy Habit Develope.d from Occasional Smoking
7. ~ate a Personality One Admires/Respects
WILLIAM ESTY COMPANY, INC.
" CX 25-C
RJM053057
74M00658

C, INITIAL BRAND SELEC,~ION
• young smokers unlikely to select a non-filter brand
• young smokers may be more inclined to select a
low flavor brand compared to former years
, selection between non-menthol and menthol full-
flavor is in same proportion among all smokers
(1.5 non-menthol to 1 menthol)
• young smokers less likely to select a 100mm cigarette
.. New Smokers
" All Smokers 18-2__0 35-49
~ NFP 44 53 35
30 39
• smokers aged 18-20 likely to•select either Marlboro
.~." or Kool ~
-.Smokers under I$ have an even greater affinity towards
...... Marlboro and Kool
• ~0ng olde~ smokers SALEM and WINSTON are relatlvely
• .. ~ : strong
SALEM 9 9 I0
Kool i0 17 5
WINSTON 15 12 12
Marlboro 14 34 16
Source: NFO ('74 Report)
WSLLIAM |STY COMPANY, INC.
CX 25-D
RJM053058

D. REASONS FOR SELECTING FIKST "USUAL" BRAND
- more closely a brand fits the psychological and physio-
logical needs the more likely that brand wi1~ be selected
primary causes -
(i} influence of friend or peer group
while children of parents that smoke are
more incllned to smoke, parents have little
influence on brand selection
user image
• young smokers "wear" their cigarette
- their cigarette is an important element
'of their "I"
"~2) product characteristics a brand has or is
perceived to have
Hyp6thesis -
Product selected based on product image
HT~mthesis -
~E~roduct selected ba~ed on user image . . . Marlboro
• advertlslng/promotion has communicated
a manly, tough, confident user image
• is a full-flavored, manly cigarette
• image conforms with (1) masculine peer
pressure needs and (2) need for
support in stressful situations
Kool
- advertlsing/promotion has communicated a
strong menthol/smoklng image
strong perception satisfies young smokers
need for support
- ev[4ence %ha£ i£ is more acceptable •than
other brands to people who use drugs
WILLIAM |STY COMPANY, INC.
II
CX 25-E
~M053059
74M00660 a

If a person is ~oing to smoke, he generally . • •
starts during his teens
primarily to conform
- or to gain confidence
- or to avail himself of physical
enjoyment/sensation
likely to select Kool or Marlboro
WILLIAM |STY COMPANY, IN¢.
CX 25-F
74M0066 "1 R
