FTC Joe Camel Documents
Memo to F. H. Christopher, Jr. from D. W. Tredennick Re: To Answer the Question "What Causes Smokers to Select Their First Brand of Cigarettes?"
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~ly 3, 1974
~:'°:~:~:~Th.___e purpose of this m~,orand~ :s to answer the question
4~uses ~okers to select their first brand cf cigarette?"
:~ e discussion which follows will cover th(~ age at which people
~generallv start smokfng, their initial reasons for smoking,
the bran~s they in~lally select for regular? ~se and their
~zeasons for selecting that brand.
For legal reasons, we ha~e been unable to d[rectly,survey smokers
under 18 years of age (as w~ll be sho%~ mos~ smokers begin s~klng
regularly and select a u&ual brand at or before the age of 18).
Therefore, much of our Info~atlon Is dra~ from secondary
sources and we have to hypothesize to a considerable extent
to what causes initial brand selection because no comprehenslvs
study we know of has dlroctly address,d th~s ~ssue.
STARTING AGE
~er 50% of men ~okers 'start ~~ fairly regularly
~e age 0F~B~I~E~iy a11 start by the age of 25, W~en
tend to begin smoking at a slightly older a,ge. Here Is a brief
s~a~y t.able; a more c~mplete age distribution Is attached
(Table I).
~ge Started_Sm___o~n~:
17 & Under 54 33
18-20 30 34
25 ~ Over ~ ~__~8
Total 100% 100%
Median Age: 17 19
Source: Department: of Health, Education, and Welfare.
l CX 49-A
RH0003268

Mr. F. H. ":hristopher, Jr.
• Page 2
July 3, 1974
STARTING AGE (Cont'd)_
The incidence of smoking among people 16.-24 years of age is 40%,
according to the ].972 Yankelovlch "Monitor". Within this age
group, smoking Incidence is 44% among men and 37% among women.
Incidence of smoking increases in older age segments, peaking
at 51% among people 35-49 years of age.
INITIAL REASONS FOR SMOKING
Published sources a~:e consistent in iden~:ifying one or more of
the'followlng as the essential reasons for smoking cigarettes,
at least initially~
-- Conformance
-- Support, to 9a~.n confidence or security in stress
situation (ofte, n social)
--- Enjoyment, taste or other physiological benefits
(after an initial learning period)
-- To show off
Often more than one of~ these factors ont,~r into a young person's
decision to smoke and the reasons for a given individual are
seldom clear cut and definitive. In addition, two less prevalent
reasons are to rebel against authority (although a youth is
most likely to smoke ~.f his parents smok,~), or to satisfy a
"habit" which is developed from occasional smoking.
Following are brief e:aborations on each of the major reasons
for early smoking:
Conformance:
Probably the most prevalent r~ason that a young person starts
to smoke is the influence of a close fri.~nd or "peers". One
major study among youths showed that the best predictor of whether
or not a young person smokes is to determine if he has a close
friend who smokes. Peer group influence is very strong during
the teen years. Men, particularly, report that smoking is
symbolic of rugged masculinity and that they took up smoking
because they wanted to impress and be aczepted by other young men
who ~moked. Often the motivation is to De less the target of
group aggression. Smoking is often a wa~ to gain entree to a
group by effectlng an appearance of beln~ mature, sophisticated,
sexy or manly. However, with respect to peer group influence, it
is not clear whether smokers tend to forn a group or whether
smoking tends to permeate a group after it is formed on the basis
of sere other c~mmonality (e.g.. a common feeling of insecurity
or interest ~n rock music).
O
~~CX 49-B

Mr. F. H. Christopher, Jr.
Page 3
July 3, 1974
• INITIAL REASONS FOR SMOKING _(Cont'd)
:~:~:::~oung smokers generally ag'ree that they diffsr from non-smokers
i~ .....With respect to several p~rsonal characteristics. The most
~;pe~';asive of these ~s thought to be "nervousness", which is
~.-.~:~.~o~.-....~vDified by the need to do something w~th thslr hands. Smokers
~ :also view themselves to some extent as excessively verbal,
~....::.~.:~::::~m.xtroverted and easily bored Many yotmg smokers report that
:~%hey first bec~e regular ~mokers at a time when a major
:~%~:~.e~ansltion occured in the~.r flee, such as going away to college
~:~:::::~Or facing an educational or social crisis. These smokers
:~:~:~:~frequently say ~at smoking at such times helps th~ to over-
c~e stress either by bol~terlng their self-image (and how they
are perce'ived by o~ers), or physlol~ically, by relaxing or
st~ulatlng them.
~ 'Many young smokers, Indep{~ndent of group or o~er pressures,
:~/:s~ply enjoy the taste and o~er physiol~ical benefits of
~oklng, having tried smoking to soe if they would enjoy It
::._ rather than for other festoons. The older a person is when he
~"'~:~starts to smoke, apparently, ~e more likely "enJo~ent" is
.~::~ ........... ~hls reason for smoking regularXy. These s~kers often associate
~:~-- .smoking with specific occasions such as meals and work breaks.
~::~~d of course a ~riod of timo is often ne'cessary for an
~ .... :indlvidual to acquire a taste for cigarettes to the point of
~ .. ~::~.-~.~ .:
~:~ TO Show O f f :
~:~:~This reason shows up less frequently in the available literature
~:~ .......... ~and is reaXly hard to separato fr~ confo~ance or support.
~>:~:~ .OEten It is related to a hoed to project a tougher appearance
~~an would othe~Ise be possible, or In the case
~:.:~:~ g~r~, to spear se~ually precocious.
.~ ......
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RH0003270

Mr. F. }|. Christopher, Jr.
Page 4
July 3, 1974
INITIAL BRAND SELECTION
Younger smokers are likely to select either Marlboro or Keel
as tbelr usual brand. These two brands enjoy a 50% share of
users among smokers 18--20 years of ago as contrasted to a 24%
share of market among all smoksrs. The Company has not surveyed
smokers under 18 years of age, but ~nformal and secondary
sources suggest even larger shares for Marlboro and Keel.
Following is a brief sunumary of shares ~.ong smokers 18-20 years
of age compared to shares among "all smokers". A more detailed
table (Table II) appears in the appendix.
The third column of the table below shows, brand shares among
smokers 35-49 years old, a segment typical of older smokers.
Among these o]der smokers, Winston and S~lem are relatively
strong brands as Marlboro and Keel drop off to shares of
6% and 5% respectively. Further perspective on brand shares
among various age groups is provided by the attached trend
charts.
All Smokers Smokers
Smokers 18-20 35-49
Shares
No~---~/ Flavor Filters
W~nston
Marlboro
44 53 35
i,T
1.4 34 6
2,6 35 26
lO 17 5
100 10o 10o
Menthol Filters
Salem
Keel
Other Brands
Total
Source~
R,~R Comparative Sales ("All Smokezs")l National Family
Opinion Panel (smokers 18-20 and 35-49).
Young smokers initially are unlikely to select a non-filter brand
or a low flavor brand. They tend to select between a menthol and
non-menthol full-flavor cigarette in abcut the same proportion as
do all smokers (1.5 non--menthol to 1 menthol). Further, young
smokers are less likely than older smokers to select a lOOmm
cigarette. Share of total 100mm ciga~e~.tes is 15% among smokers
18-20 as contrasted to 22% ~,ong all sm¢.kers.

Mr. F. H. Christopher, Jr.
Page 5
July 3, 1974
REASONS FOR SELECT:NG A FIRST "USUAL" BRAND
have focused earlier on the age people b~gln to smoke, their
~#ilnltlal reasons for smoking and the brands they first select
~i~"beceuse that information helps us draw reasonable hypotheses
~e absence of d~rect data /egarding reasons for initial
~":~ br an d selection.
~f~Br~dly speaking, we hypotheslz~ that the causes of initial
~:~br~d seloctlon relate directly to the reasons a yo~g person
s~kes. The more closely a brand meets the psychologlca)
~'support" needs (advertising or othe~ise c,3~Icated brand or
~user ~age) ~d ~e pbys~ol~ical needs (pr3duct characterlstics),
-- The influence of a friend or peer group. This is
particularly evident in the case of young wo~en
who quite often adopt the brand their husband or
boyfriend smokes s~mpIy because it is more
convenient.
While friends and spouses are quite influential
~n a young smoker's choice of bran~, it appears that
parents have very little influence on brand e~lection
in today's environment. It used re, be that a
youngster would smoke regularly his parent's brand
because it was the most readily ave,liable to him and
he became accustomed to it. Today we find a parent's
influence much less prevalent as young peopl, have
greater mobil~ty ~u~d often steer a%~ay from the
"trappings" of the older generation.
-- The user "image" that has become associated with a
particular brand. To some extent young smokers
"wear" their cigarette and it becomes an important
part of the "I" they wish to be, along with their
clothlng and the way they style th~ir hair.
-- The product characteristics a bran,i has or is
perceived to have. Often these product character-
~stlcs simply reduce a smoker's field of choice
(a longer cigarette for example).

Mr. F. H. Christopher,
Page 6
July 3,
REASOtlS FOR SELECTING A FIRST "USUAL" BRAND (Cont'd)
-- Kool is often selected Initlally because (also a Judgment)
its smoking chars¢,terlstlc~ make it appropriate for
youths who feel that smoking a brand that is widely
perceived as strong will satisfy th~|ir need for "support".
~ere is also evidence from focus g:~oup research that
Kool has product characteristics that make it more
acceptable than other brands to peol.)1~ who ~se drugs,
and to blacks.
.... ~.: ..... ~ $[~4MARY
~,~:~ If a person is going to smoke cigarettes, h.e generally starts
~:~ ....... ~:~ during his teens, prlmar~ly to confo~ with a close frlen~ or
: ~.~.~.~...,,..:~ friends, to give himself clzeater confidence in stress situation,
:::::~::::~,,~:::
-
: or to avail himself or the physical ehJo~ent smoking offers.
~. ~ Currently a young smoker ~s much more likel'f ~o selec~ Marlboro
: ~{ or ~1 than we would e~,oct on the b~sis of these bran~'
.;~%; overall £ranchiee.
: ::~!: ThO main causes o~ initial br~d saleotlon; I.e., the Influence
.~; .;~:~ of fr~end~, tho user ~g~ ~ b~a~d projects and differentiatod
F:;~:::~.~- pro~ct characteristics, are logically relate~ to the reasons
;:~.~:~::;~::~:: a yo~g ~rson bogins to smoke.
~:>:<-:->:< ~:.:::.~:~
D. W. T~e~ennick
: Marketing Research Depa~ent
"DWT/nk

TABLE
STARTED SMOKING
12 & Under
14
15
16
18
19-20
21-24
25 & Over
(Base)
HALES
FEMALES
C~:. ~ ~ CUM. %
S.8 2 .? 2.7 ~
9.8
3.1
7.8
9.5
12,7
11.1
14.9
15.0
10.6
5.4
.I
100.0
2~',7 2,8 7,1
3C~.2 6.1 13.2
42,9. 10.8 24.0
94.5 14.7 81.2
99.1 18.4 99.6
100.0 .4 i00.0
TOTAL 10 0,0
Q. How old were you when you started smoking cigarettes fairly
regularly?
Source :
Department of Health, Education, and Welfare,
Adult Use of Tobacc_o.l 1970_.
O

TABLE II
SHARE OF MARKET AND SHARE OF YOUNG SMOKEKS
SHARE OF MA:~KET
SHARE OF SMOKERS
18-20 YEARS OLD
%
15.3 11.5
13.9 33.8
14.7 7.8
::~. MENTHOL FILTERS 26 o__~
35.3
........... ~.:.~ ............ Salem
8.7 8.7
:i!:~i~::iiiiiii~i::i!~i::~iNewportK oo i I
00 ." 81 1 6.3.08
':~i~.~:~.:~:~::::::i:~:" Other Menthol 6,6
6 • 8
i~ .................. ~LOW FLAVOR FILTERS2
.~.7.__~2 9.3
!~:~.,~!:~.~! :~ Total ~02 ' 8
I00.0
~ (I00~ cigarettes ) 3 22.0
I4.5
::~:~.:~.~%.>:.:.:~.~
~:~.~ lIncludes: Ral~igh, Vice, roy, ~nson & Hedges, L & M, C~el
~:::~ ~d others.
: ~.~;~ ~Incl~d~s~ Kent, Tareyto~, Parli~ent, La~k, V~tage, True,
Dotal, and others. Also includes low flavor ~n~ol brands
~:~:~: cause ~otal to add to more ~an i00%.
.:::~ ~ ~;..~:~:~:
:; ...... ~ 3Also included above.
o
-- L

]:MAGES OF WINSTON - MARLBORO
Likes outdoors/ggttlng close
to nature
Brave/tough
Manly
Is largest selling brand
Darlng/adventurous
Is a popular brar~d
A take charge person/
a leader
Convential res~rved
Old fashioned
Independent/sel f r(,Xiant
Aggresslve/ambltlou s
Is a strong smoke
IS flavorful - neither
strong/llght
WINSTON MARLBORO DIFF.
21" 46 (25)
21 41 (20)
25 44 (19)
54 35 .19
21 36 (15)
68 58 i0
27 36 (9)
17 11 6
2S 30 (S)
26 31 (5)
24 29 { 5)
29 24 4
*Reads~ 21t of Non-Menthol Filter Sn~)kers say that the Winston
user "likes the outdoors/gettlng close to nature."
Source: RJR Use & Attitude Study (1974).
o

IM,%GES OF SALEH -
Has a lot of menthol
Is a strong smoko
Has more menthol tast(~ than tobacco
Has a light taste
Is a mild smoke
Is flavorful - nelth~z
strong/llght
Brave/tough
Manly
P1aln/llke simple thi|%gs
Old fashion
Sensitlve/has feellng for others
Has refreshing ment~,l taste
Has llttle/light me,,thol
SALEM KOOL DIFf.
27* 55 (28)
11 35 (24)
28 47 (19)
23 12 11
24 14 10
35 25 10
lo 20 (10)
13 23 (10)
26 17 9
14 22 (8)
24 17 7
41 34 7
18 Ii 7
*Reads~ 27% of Menthol ~mokers say that the statement
"has a lot of menthol" describes Salem.
Source~ RJR Use & Attitude Study (1974).
