Tobacco Documents Online

PUBLIC SMOKING PROGRAM STATE ACTIVITIES DIVISION PRESENTATION TO TI EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE JUNE 16, 1988

Abstract

Today's document is the text of a 1988 speech given to the Tobacco Institute's Executive Committee expliaining how the Institute was handling an onslaught of proposals across the country to restrict public smoking. The speaker says that the Institute intends to change from "its current reactive posture to...a new, aggressive stance." He points out that opportunities exist "to put the anti-tobacco groups on the defensive" and an Institute objective is to "make THEM react and respond to OUR issues, to expend THEIR efforts and dollars to try and protect what is already on the books. The strategy includes "new approaches of repealing/modifying/rolling back existing legislation . . . of promoting ventilation . . . or IAQ [Indoor Air Quality] legislation . . . and smokers' rights legislation."

IN disucssing smokers' rights legislation, the speaker points out that smokers, in actuality, have few rights, are not a protected class and are unmotivated themselves to argue for places to smoke:

"As Stan Temko [a company attorney] will tell you later, smokers have few legal 'rights.' Smokers are not a protected class as are the aged, handicapped and minorities...Smokers, up to now, have been less than willing to stand up for themselves and argue for places to smoke..."

He also admits that the tobacco industry, working behind the scenes, formed a front group to protest smoking restrictions enacted by the Massachusetts Transportation Authority. The industry called the group "Commuters for Fair Treatment" and organized it to use to protest the smoking ban "in the media and before the legislature."

The speaker also says that the Tobacco Institute plans to "set the legislative agenda" in states it worked in, and "push public percpetion back" to allowing smoking in public areas.

User-Contributed Notes

Fields

Quotes

Our charge was to analyze our legislative programs in the light of the ever-changing legislative, political and social climate. It is apparent--if not no other reason than we continue to win more than 90 percent of the state battles we face--that, by and large, our current legislative efforts are on target....

We all recognize that there are not silver bulltes...no magic...in dealing with the public smoking issue. However, we have identified new approaches...new concepts...which, we feel, will enhance out efforts to challenge restrictions on the use of your products.

We have faced more than 400 pieces of state and local smoking restriction legislaiton in each of the last several years. We project new introduction at about the same rate, perhaps even higher, for 1989....

However, there are opportunities to put the anti-tobacco groups on the defensive...places like California, Colorado and Massachusetts...places for US to go on the defensive...to make them react and respond to our issues...to expent THEIR efforts and dollars to try and protect what is already on the books.

The legislative concepts we will outline today represent our intention to begin to expand our legislatie program from its current reactive posture to include a new, aggressive stance.

We are excited about the opportunities presented by the new approaches...of repealing/modifiying/rolling back existing legislation...of promoting ventilation...or IAQ [indoor air quality] legislation...and smokers' rights legislation.

Based on our review to date, we see opportunities for these new programs in approximately 15-20 states and in 25-30 counties and cities.

By implementing these concepts, WE can se the legislative agenda...WE can begin to push public perception back towards the center, WE can make smokers feel good about themselves, WE can be sure smokers are permitted to smoke...WE can force the anti's to play defense for a change.

Author

N/A (Tobacco Institute employee, inferred)

Recipient

Tobacco Institute Executive Committee

Region

Beverly Hills

California

Colorado

Connecticut

Des Moines

Iowa

Kansas

Maryland

Massachusetts

Nevada

New York

New York City

North Carolina

Palo Alto

Pennsylvania

Vermont

Washington

Wisconsin

Alaska

Anchorage

Appleton

Aurora

Type

Presentation Materials

Subject

Industry Front Groups

Industry Strategies

Labor Unions

legislation

Local Level

Smokers Rights Groups

State Level

Tobacco Control Groups

Ventilation

clean indoor air