Tobacco Documents Online

C June 10, 1982 STATEMENT TO BE MADE TO THE RICHMOND CHAPTER OF THE AMERICAN'RED CROSS (Provided by the Tobacco Institute) (Delivered by Dr. Paul Eichorn) about the effects of environmental tobacco smoke. Its implementation by chapters without careful consideration can only compound that result. Any objective reading of the relevant research literature can only lead to a conclusion that it has not been shown that environmental tobacco smoke is harmful. Even the Surgeon General has not concluded that nonsmokers are imperiled, based on review of that literature. Smoking can, of course, be a source of annoyance to some persons in some situations. The solution to that social problem, however, is application df'courtesies, not control of behavior by rules and regulations. The ARC resolution is an unfortunate result of misunderstanding From the viewpoint of any organization~dependent on public support, impetuous consideration of discriminatory rules could result in the inability to maximize that support. In a community where industrial presence and employment related to tobacco is so widespread, this can be acutely problematic. The board of directors of the Richmond Chapter if it chooses not to table the matter of implementation indefinitely should at least avail itself of an impartial examination of present knowledge of the effects of environmental tobacco smoke before considering local implementation of the national resolution. Insofar as the latter resolution pertains to the effects of tobacco smoke on smokers themselves, the resolution also lacks merit. Informed, adult smokers should not be subject to punitive action to control their preferences by any organization, but should continue to exercise their own judgements. The above statement summarizes the position of the entire cigarette industry --- and Philip Morris endorses this position. If you would like to have additional material reflecting our _ viewpoint, I'll be happy to see that the Tobacco Institute provides it.