This one-page document from Philip Morris'(PM) files succinctly describes PM's strategy to take attention away from the health issues surrounding secondhand smoke by changing the discussion to encompass all types of ambient air pollutants. Incredibly, the writer likens the plan to how the industry deafeated public calls for a self-extinguishing cigarette:
"We should refocus our efforts against smoking restriction legislation and regualtion to a general promotion of comprehensive indoor air quality review and improvement. This is analagous to our effort on the 'self-extinguishing' cigarette to focus on overall fire prevention
and isolate its supporters as anti-smoking."
The writer recommends "us[ing] a scientific front" group to make the effort believable, and specifies use of "especially some liberal Nader group." He further plots to "create a model indoor air quality bill" that would be introduced in state legislatures and that focuses on "ventilation, filters, inspections, etc. Smoking would not be dealt with directly."
The author suggests they "Organize firms like ACVA into a travellin road show to hawk their wares to government and businesses much like the antis sell their advice to business and government on smoking policies."
He concludes that the program "would require money, staff time and a first-rate PR firm."
Documents show that Philip Morris did eventually carry out most of this plan, forming scientific front groups like The Advancement of Sound Science Coalition (TASSC), sending Gray Robertson of ACVA around the world giving talks about "sick building syndrome," and suggesting that building owners needed to install expensive new ventilation systems.
"especially some liberal Nader group"