Tobacco Documents Online

Untitled [Enactment of Smokers Rights Legislation]

Abstract

This letter from the Tobacco Institute discusses "smokers' rights" legislation in Oklahoma. The writer, Stan Boman of the Institute, equates smoking with a personal trait, stating that employers who require employees be nonsmokers subject smokers to "spiteful and unreasonable discrimination in employment practices." The letter says that the industry felt "something must be done" about this, and "as a result, non-discrimination legislation has been introduced in 27 states and passed in 9 of them."

This document indicates not only the tobacco industry's view of nicotine addiction as a protected characteristic the equivalent of race, sex, and disability, but also indicates the industry's power to manipulate state legislative systems to advance corporate goals.

Fields

Quotes

December 13, 1990

Mr. Jerald Naifeh President, OATCD P.O. Box 390 Sapulpa, OK 74067-0390

Dear Jerry:

Thank you for your recent letter concerning smokers' rights legislation in Oklahoma. I certainly understand your concerns about pursuing enactment of such a bill; and, in fact, I share them. Legislating is far from an exact science and when a bill is filed, sometimes virtually anything can happen.

Over the past few years the Tobacco Institute and its member companies have become interested in this sort of law for the simple reason that, in larger and larger numbers, smokers are being subjected to spiteful and unreasonable discrimination in employment practices. A consensus that "something must be done" was reached; and, as a result, non-discrimination legislation has been introduced in 27 states and passed in 9 of them.

...Be assured that in the case of Oklahoma everything possible will be done to minimize that risk in route to gaining some protection for the consumers of our products. Also, please be assured that we will be consulting with OATCD counsel every step of the way in the bill's progress. Finally, should it appear at any point that the bill endangers any other industry-wide interest, the push for its passage will be stopped.

Thanks again for your letter and continuing ooperation. I am confident that we can work together and accomplish a successful 1991 legislative year.

Best personal regards,

Stan Boman Regional Vice President

Company

Tobacco Institute

Author

Boman, Stanley M. ¹ (TI VP Regional Director (MO), Smokeless Tobacco Counsel)

Recipient

Naifeh, J. ²

Region

United States

Oklahoma

Litigation

Oklahoma AG

Operation/Project

Anti-discrimination legislation

The tobacco Insituttendustry sought to pass anti-discrimination laws throughout the U.S. to help preserve social acceptability of smoking.

Type

LETTER

Subject

smokers rights

non-discrimination