Tobacco Documents Online

~ ~1ATI~ONAL ,• S1ViOKERSAwANCE I I II I I I II I I I II I I I :I I I I I 1 1, 1 1 1 1, 1 1 1 1 :1 1 i 1 1 1 1 i1 1 1 1 1 1 111 1 1 111 1 1 1 .1 i 111 1 1 1 ,.1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 , I I :I i I Ii I I I I i I !i I I I I I I I i I I I I I ,:I I I FOR IIV1ME'D.IATE RELEASE' Contact: Bill Althaus March 7, 1994 (703) 6g4L4842 National Smokers Alliance Launches 1994 Activities Alexandrnia, Vu, March 7-- Smokers around the country have united to form a national organization dedicated to protecting their tights by promoting;policies of accommodation. Based in. Alexandria; Va., the National Smokers Alliance (N'SA)i today announced the fonnation : and launch of its 1994 membership driwe, "Respect for individual rights, which is a tradition, in America, has been replaced with intolerance and infringement on personal freedoms," said William J. Althaus„ the former mayor of York, Pa., who is serving; as the chairman of the NSA National Board' of Advisors, "'Smokers are the rnost prominent target of this movement, making the Nationai Smokers Alliance an essential voice in the fight to protect indiwidiual'rights." Among;the many challenges facing smokers in1 1994' is a measure under consideration ini Congress that would ban smoking in almost, all public places nationwide. In addition, state and local governments around the country are banning smoking in a variety of places, including offices, restaurants, airports and shopping malbs.. "Public opinion polls have shown, that Americans support accommodation; not government-imposed bans;" said Oscar Coffey Jr., president and chief executive! officer of the U: S. African-American Chamber of Commerce and a member of the N'SA Board of Advisors. "Based on first-hand experience, I know that, business owners need to have the flexibility to meet the needs of all their employees and' customers -- and not have their hands tied by legislators: That°s why promoting accommodation is the primary goal of the NSA." Fighting increases in cigarette excise taxes at all levels of government also will be a focus of'the alliance this year,, with, one of the first battles facing NSA me rs being;the 75- cent-per-pack increase in the federal cigarette tax proposed in the administratiods health care reform i package. "While we all may agree with the premise behind health care reform, singling out one group to pay for a program that benefits everyone is wrong," said' Charles Sydnor, president and chief executive officer of the Central Virginia Educational Telecommunications Corporation and a member of the NSA Board of Advisors. "The alliance serves as the platforrm from which the nation's more than 50 million smokers can " exercise their political and economic power to stop this type of discriminatory legislationi (more) 2111 NleFtlii 8otee tteerf iolt,a 11!0 Alexeeitple, YA 223114! Tel. 702.1184.4842: ' Fex 708,.884.4'8!47. ..~~..~

Iin~ addition to serving as a national platform, the NSA will provide members with a wide variety of services, including a bi-monthly newsletter, special alert bulletins an& an 800 number where members can get current ' ormatiion on issues affecting their rights. Funding for NSA activities will come from membership fees, as well as grants from various segments of the tobacco ~ industry, including, growers, suppliers, retailers, distributors and manufacturers. ### .;~ r~