Philip Morris
Report to the Management of Philip Morris U.S.A. Regarding Implementation of the Action Against Access Program
Fields
- Author
- Hampe, C.W.
- Harrison, N.J.
- Rudman, W.B.
- Harrison, N.J.
- Area
- GOVT AFFAIRS/DENVER CO REGION 10
- Type
- REPT, REPORT, OTHER
- Request
- Stmn/R1-099
- Master ID
- 2062900111/0253
Related Documents:- 2062900218 Exhibit A
- 2062900219 See Attached Report Final Report: Aaa / We Card Audit for Philip Morris Usa Hoffman Research Associates 970300
- 2062900220 Exhibit B
- 2062900221-0228
- 2062900229 Exhibit C
- 2062900230 State Correspondence Summary Status
- 2062900231 Exhibit D
- 2062900232 Localities Correspondence Summary Status
- 2062900233 Exhibit E
- 2062900234 State Correspondence Status - Responded But Not Yet Resolved
- 2062900235 Exhibit F
- 2062900236 Conviction Information
- 2062900237 Exhibit G
- 2062900238
- 2062900239 Exhibit H
- 2062900240
- 2062900241 Exhibit I
- 2062900242-0248 Interim Report to the Management of Philip Morris U.S.A. Regarding Implementation of the Action Against Access Program
- 2062900249 Exhibit J
- 2062900250
- 2062900251 Exhibit K
- 2062900252 Assembly Bill 1076 Relating to Tobacco Retailer's Regulations
- 2062900253
- Named Organization
- American Cancer Society
- American Heart Assn
- American Lung Assn
- Appropriations Comm
- Business Affairs Comm
- Coalition for Responsible Tobacco Retail
- Commerce Comm
- Congress
- Consumer Protection Comm
- Cri
- Dept of Liquor Licenses + Control
- Div of Alcoholic Beverages + Tobacco
- FDA, Food and Drug Administration
- Finance Comm
- Ftc, Federal Trade Commission
- Ga Dept of Public Safety
- Ga Liquor Commission
- Ga Lung Assn
- Hhs, Dept of Health and Human Services
- Hoffman Research Associates
- House
- Hra
- Il Assembly
- in Div of Mental Health
- Judiciary Comm
- Justice Dept
- Ky Farm Bureau
- Ky House
- Ky Senate
- Local Government Comm
- Ma Dept of Revenue
- Marlboro Team Penske
- Mi Bulb
- Mi Dept of Public Health
- Mn Senate
- Mo Div of Alcohol + Tobacco Control
- Mo Retailers Assn
- Natl Assn of Convenience Stores
- Ne Dept of Health
- Ne Retail Federation
- Ne Retail Grocers Assn
- Oh Assn of Convenience Stores
- Oh Assn of Tobacco + Candy Distributors
- Oh Council of Retail Merchants
- Oh Dept of Health
- Oh Grocers Assn
- Oh Petroleum Marketers Assn
- Oh Petroleum Retailers + Repair Assn
- Oscar Mayer
- Philip Morris Globe
- PM General Counsel
- PM Usa Newsline
- PM, Philip Morris
- Precon
- Rules Comm
- SC Dept of Revenue + Taxation
- Senate
- Smokers Advocate
- State Attorneys General Working Group
- Substance Abuse + Mental Health Services
- TI, Tobacco Inst
- Tn House
- US Tobacco
- Usdc Middle District NC
- Wa Liquor Control Board
- Ways + Means Comm
- We Card Retail Training Seminar
- Wi Dept of Revenue
- Wi Lung Assn
- Wv Dept of Health
- Al Alcoholic Beverage Control Board
- American Heart Assn
- Named Person
- Bayh
- Conner, P.
- Dawson, B.
- Engler, J.
- Foti, S.
- Hart, M.
- Humphrey, H. III
- Jennings, L.
- Johnson, C.
- Kosco, L.
- Mckenna, W.
- Meiklejohn, A.
- Miller, Z.
- Morgan, J.
- Patterson, T.
- Patton, P.
- Rowland, J.
- Surgeon General
- Synar
- Walker, M.
- Zschech, K.
- A, J.R.
- L, H.
- M, J.
- M, S.
- V, R.
- W, K.
- W, R.
- Z, L.
- Conner, P.
- Site
- N819
- Litigation
- Stmn/Produced
- Author (Organization)
- Paul Weiss
- Characteristic
- MARG, MARGINALIA
- Date Loaded
- 05 Jun 1998
- Brand
- Philip Morris
- Basic
- Benson & Hedges
- Bristol
- Cambridge
- Daves
- Marlboro
- Merit
- Players
- Virginia Slims
- Basic
- UCSF Legacy ID
- zuc22e00
Document Images
9
comply with the We Card program after their first
fine/conviction).
There is room for PMUSA to improve its implementation of the
withholding of merchandising benefits. Territory Sales Managers
("TSMs") are uncertain about the extent of their responsibility for
implementing the enforcement/penalty aspects of the program, and
retailers are generally unfamiliar with the program. In our view, these
fmdings are largely attributable to the fact that PMUSA has not been
able to obtain the enforcement data from state and local officials needed
to implement the sanctions program nationwide.
Our survey and interview data indicate clearly ihat a broadly
implemented PMUSA program of withholding merchandising benefits
from noncompliant retailers would be a significant deterrent to the illegal
sale of cigarettes to minors -- and, in some states, would be more
effective than the penalties available under anti-youth access laws.
Recommendations:
Given the significant potential deterrent effect of this incentive program,
PMUSA should continue to make every effort to obtain retailer
fine/conviction data from each state.
® Because PMUSA's good-faith efforts to obtain fine/conviction data
through direct contacts with state and local governments have yielded
disappointing results to date, the company should devote additional
resources to this program and take additional steps to obtain the data,
including:
significantly expanding its use of its network of government affairs
representatives and consultants to encourage state agencies to
collect and provide this data, and, in appropriate cases, to obtain
information directly from local governments;
seeking the amendment of state law, in the context of supporting_
AAA legislation, to require state collection of this data; and
taking more aggressive action to expedite the data collection and
distribution process in those states (including Florida, Kentucky,
and Vermont) that have indicated an ability to provide this data,
Dock: D C 1:50152.1 1317A

10
and in those states (including New Jersey and Rhode Island) that
have indicated they are worlcing on a process to provide this data.
We propose to continue our review of this element of the AAA program
and provide an update one year from now.
6. Placement of Minimum Age Signs and Related Materials in Retail
Outlets That Participate in PMUSA's Incentive Progralns.
Findings:
Our field survey found =.hat over 85 % of retail outlets display some form
of signage relating to tobacco sales restrictions, and that stores with
which PMUSA has a merchandising agreement are more likely than
-PMUSA's other accounts to display such signage. In addition, managers
and clerks in such stores are more likely to have received training
relating to the sale of tobacco products.
Convenience stores and gas stations, which are widely viewed as prime
targets of minors seeking to purchase cigarettes, are among the
categories of retail stores that displayed the highest percentage of
PMUSA-sponsored minimum-age signage.
The level of familiarity with and commitment exhibited by TSM's to the
We Card program -- although not as high as their dedication to the "Ask
First/It's The Law" initiative -- is nonetheless high, both in absolute
terms and when compared with other recent promotional campaigns for
PMUSA products that the TSMs have implemented.
TSMs believe that there exists a genuine institutional commitment to the
AAA program at all levels within PMUSA. However, while over 84 %
of TSMs believe that corporate headquarters has either a "fairly strong"
or a "very strong" commitment to the program, less than half believe
that their Unit Manager displays these levels of commitment. TSMs also
place greater emphasis on communications received from Unit Managers
than on those received from headquarters. These findings suggest that it
would be beneficial for PMUSA to reinforce Unit Managers' awareness
of and commitment to the AAA and We Card programs.
Retail store managers and clerks are generally familiar with laws
governing tobacco sales. In those instances in which they are mistaken
Doctl: DC 1:50152.1 1317A

11
Findings:
=a
regarding applicable laws, they tend to err on the side of caution.
PMUSA's accounts with merchandising agreements are more
knowledgeable about applicable state and local laws than its other
accounts. This indicates that TSM training and commitment may have a
beneficial impact on retailer, knowledge and behavior.
TSMs clearly want to participate successfully in the We Card and
Responsible Retailer programs. We believe that they (and their Unit
Managers) would benefit from renewed training, a clearer statement of
mission, and the development of qualitative benchmarks of the success of
these programs.
* With respect to retailers, PMUSA has substantially achieved its
objectives of placing minimum-age materials in stores and educating
retailers about underage tobacco sales laws. Retailers would clearly
benefit, however, from renewed education about the non-signage aspects
of the We Card program and aaout the compliance/enforcement elements
of the Responsible Retailer Program.
7.
Implementation of Program to Reward Members of the Public Who
Identify Unauthorized Uses of Philip Morris Trademarks.
Findings:
We are satisfied that the AAA trademark program has been implemented
in a manner consistent with its original design.
The program does not represent a radical departure from PMUSA's
traditional practices with regard to trademark enforcement. In view of
the fact that tradernark protection is an essential element of PMUSA's
business, it is not surprising that the trademark program has not revealed
any instances of widespread infringement of which the company was not
already aware.
8. Efforts to Support the Enactment of State Legislation Relating to the
Use of Tobacco Products by Nilihors.
PMUSA has, to date, fulfilled its promise to attempt to enact reasonable
state legislation embodying the AAA agenda. PMUSA's initial AAA
Doc.# : D C 1: 50152.1 1317 A

12
'I
legislative proposals were comprehensive, and the company sought
legislative action in the states where it had a reasonable opportunity to
pass legislation.
When confronted with political opposition to a major AAA element
(usually line-of-sight or licensing provisions), PMUSA usually took
reasonable, pragmatic approaches to attain those elements of the AAA
bill for which adequate political support existed. PMUSA was usually
pragmatic about the local preemption issue, with the debatable (but
minor) exceptions of South Carolina and Kentucky.
Eight states have enacted new anti-youth access laws, due in part to
PMUSA's efforts. Six of these laws clearly improve prior law.
Fourteen states considered legislation that contained major portions of the
AAA agenda, 10 of which contained full licensing regimes-, and- this
bodes well for future positive legislative action.
PMUSA should continue the legislative efforts it initiated for the 1996
legislative session. In particular, it should focus on enactment of the
comprehensive legislation that was considered in ten states in 1996 but
did not receive final approval.
PMUSA should pay additional attention to: (1) improving weak laws
that are coupled with local preemption in states such as Indiana,
Kentucky, and South Carolina, and (2) supporting adequate funding for
the agencies charged with enforcing the anti-youth access regimes in each
state.
We propose to continue our review of PMUSA's state legislative efforts
in 1997 and to update our findings after the completion of the 1997
legislative sessions.
Doc#: DC 1:50152.1 1317A

13
III. FIlVDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS REGARI)ING
EACH ELEMENT OF THE AAA PROGRAM
In the following sections, we set forth our findings and
recommendations regarding each element of the AAA program, and, in
appropriate cases, identify areas that may warrant further ex min tion.
A. Printing of "Underage Sale Prohibited" Notices
On All Packs and Cartons of Philip Morris Brand
CiearettQs
PMUSA's objective with regard to this program element was to
introduce by the end of 1995 a new "Underage Sale Prohibited" notice on all
packs and cartons of Philip Morris brand cigarettes sold--within the United
States. Based on our meetings with company representatives who were
involved in the implementation of this program element, and our review of
relevant company records, we have determined that PIVIUSA introduced the
new legend well within its established deadline through a process that involved
a high degree of interdepartmental coordination and noteworthy commitment on
the part of responsible personnel.
Our review included several meetings at PMUSA's New York
headquarters, and at the company's Richmond, Virginia manufacturing facility,
with company personnel who were responsible for the day-to-day
implementation of this program element. The departments and functions
represented by these individuals included Packaging Technical Services (both
New York and Richmond), production planning, packaging materials
purchasing and inventory management, and implementation of printing
activities. We reviewed background documents relating to, among other things,
the process underlying the design of the new notice, the formal policies and
procedures that governed the transition to the new packs and cartons (i.e., those
that bear the AAA legend), and Pack Conversion Status Reports, which
summarize, for each of Philip Morris' 400+ product codes,11 the date on which
the_change to the new packs and cartons occurred.
1/
A single "product code" represents a specific combination of brand family
(e.g., Marlboro or Basic), product features (e.g., king-size, lights, menthol)
and packaging option (e.g., soft pack or flip-top box).
Daa'+`: DC1:50152.1 1317A

14
We found that PMUSA achieved its objective with respect to the
introduction of the new package notice under very challenging circumstances.
For example, while PMUSA had established a formal deadline of December 31,
1995 for completing the transition to the notice-bearing packs and cartons, the
teams responsible for implementing this transition established a more aggressive
deadline -- of October 1, 1995 -- for attaining a "significant market presence"
of products bearing the new legend. With this objective in mind, the company
assigned a priority to its highest volume brands -- Marlboro and Basic -- and,
according to the records that we reviewed, had by October 1, 1995 introduced
the new notice-bearing packs and cartons on product codes representing
approximately 85 % of the company's total domestic cigarette sales.
In addition, we were advised that the typical turn-around time for
implementing a graphics change for a single Philip Morris cigarette brand is 4-6
weeks, in a process that includes the design of the new graphics and the
engraving of new printing cylinders to incorporate the graphics and color
changes. The implementation of the AAA notice required the company and its
printing contractors to change graphics and engrave new cylinders for all pack
and carton types of each cigarette brand on a much more aggressive timetable.
We noted that there were a few product codes for which the
transition to the new packs and cartons did not occur until early 1996. Based
on the documents that we reviewed and the explanations provided by company
representatives, we are satisfied that the majority of these relatively few product
types represented either low-volume brand types for which packs and cartons
are printed infrequently, or generic brands (which PMUSA manufactures under
contract for unrelated parties who own the brand names) that were assigned a
lower priority than Philip Morris brands. The product codes for which a year-
end transition was not achieved represented less than two percent of the
company's projected annual domestic cigarette sales for 1995.
As the final step in our review of this program element, during
the nationwide field audit of PMUSA retail accounts conducted by Hoffmann
Research Associates ("HRA") in connection with our audit of the We Card
program, HRA interviewers randomly inspected retailers' cigarette inventories
to determine the proportiori of Philip Morris. brand. cigarettes currently offered
for sale that bear the AAA notice. (The HRA report is included at Exhibit A,
and is discussed in detail in Section III.E. below.) PIl2A found that over 90%
of packs and cartons of PMUSA's higher-volume brands currently offered for
sale nationwide (including Marlboro, Marlboro Lights, Basic, Virginia Slims
and Merit) include the "Underage Sale Prohibited" notice. HRA found also,
D0c#:DC 1:50152.1 1317A

15
however, that a smaller percentage of PMUSA's lower-volume brands currently
held in retail accounts' inventories bear the AAA legend. These include
Benson & Hedges Lights (83.6 % of packs, 87.8 % of cartons), Cambridge
(77.5 % of packs, 80.8 % of cartons), Players (66.1 % of packs, 74.4 % of
cartons) and Bristol Lights (55.1 % of packs, 70.4% of cartons). These findings
likely reflect slow turnover of these brands. We recommend that PMUSA
instruct its TSMs to examine their accounts' stocks of these brands to ensure
that aging packs and cartons that do not bear the AAA notice are replaced
expeditiously.
B. Discontinuation of Free Samples Of Philip Morris
Brand CiLyarettes
In this element of the AAA program, PMUSA pledged to
discontinue immediately the provision of free cigarette samples to consumers.
To examine the company's activities, we met in New York with PMUSA's
Vice President of Marketing Services, who described the steps taken by the
company to discontinue free cigarette samples. We also reviewed relevant
background documents relating to this initiative.
We were informed that, prior to the introduction of the AAA
program, PMUSA generally provided free cigarette samples to consumers in
only two situations: (1) the distribution of free packs of cigarettes in
connection with special promotional events, such as "bar nights" (at which PM
requires that the attendance be limited to persons 21 or older), and (2) the
mailing of samples of new cigarette brands to consumers, who have certified
they are smokers 21 or older, in specified test marketsY We are satisfied that
PMUSA promptly suspended the first category of activities upon the
announcement of the AAA program. In addition, none of the information that
we reviewed contradicts the company's representation to us that it discontinued
the second type of activity approximately one year prior to the commencement
of the AAA program.
We reviewed copies of memoranda through which the President
and CEO of PMUSA notified the compan}'s sales force of the termination of
sampling activities ~ We reviewed- also- copies of internal- correspondence
21
The AAA policy does not apply to the provision of complimentary packs of
cigarettes at dinners and other social functions that Philip Morris hosts, and for
which the company controls the guest list. In our view, this minor exception
to the policy is unremarkable.
D0Ci1:DC 1:50152.1 1317A

16
relating to two marketing events that took place during July 1995, immediately
following the announcement of the AAA program: the "Cheyenne Frontier
Days" event in Cheyenne, Wyoming, and the "Black Expo USA" in Oakland,
California. In each case, the list of Philip Morris event-related activities
referred specifically to on-site "sales" of tobacco products "to smokers 21 years
of age or older. " The memoranda stipulate that the cigarette sales (as well as
distributions of branded incentive items) will occur at sites to be agreed upon
by Philip Morris and the event sponsor.
We reviewed also copies of intercompany correspondence relating
to the company's sponsorship of Marlboro Team Penske and Indy Car Racing
events. Each of the documents we reviewed indicated that (1) promotional
materials that were provided without charge to event attendees consisted only of
merchandise such as coffee cups, ashtrays and banners, and did not include
cigarette products; (2) such items were provided only to smokers who were 21
years of age or older; and (3) Marlboro operated a Pack Sales Trailer at each
event, at which smokers who were 21 years of age or older received "incentive
items" in exchange-for a purchase of a specified pack of cigarettes.
With respect to the mailing of new or "test" brands of cigarettes,
we were informed that the last such promotion occurred approximately three
years ago, when PMUSA mailed packs of the "Dave" brand of cigarettes to
adult smokers in test markets in Colorado and Washington state. We were
further advised that PMUSA had begun to phase out promotional product
mailings long before :.he AAA program was developed, due primarily to
increasing state. restrictions on direct mailings of tobacco products.
In summary, it appears that upon the announcement of the AAA
program PMUSA discontinued all promotional activities that involved the
provision of free cigarette samples, and that this policy remains in effect.
C. Discontinuation of Mailing of Philip Morris Brand
Cigarettes
This program element entailed an immediate discontinuation of the
mailing of packs or cartons of cigarettes to consumers. We understand that
these so-called "live product" mailings previously occurred primarily in three
situations: (1) for reimbursement of consumers who were dissatisfied with
Philip Morris-brand cigarettes that they had purchased; (2) as a gesture of
goodwill to consumers who contacted the company to complain about a
problem, not relating to product quality, that they encountered in connection
Doc#:DC 1:50152.1 1317A

17
with the purchase or use of Philip Morris brand cigarettes; and (3) in response
to catalogue promotions, in which consumers typically could redeem a specified
quantity of Universal Product Code symbols from a brand of Philip Morris
cigarettes, and receive a free carton of cigarettes in return.
As a substitute for direct mailings of cigarette products, PMUSA
has instituted a coupon redemption system pursuant to which, upon providing
written verification to PMUSA that s/he is a smoker 21 years of age or older, a
qualifying consumer will receive coupons for a stated quantity of packs or
cartons of Philip Morris brand cigarettes. These coupons may be redeemed at
any retail outlet, where the retailers can verify the customer's age.
Our objective was to verify that PMUSA terminated cigarette
mailings immediately upon the announcement of the AAA program, and that
the coupon program was promptly instituted. Our review consisted, among
other things, of the following:
Meetings in PMUSA's New York headquarters with senior
company executives who were responsible for the implementation
of this element of the AAA program.
Interviews in the New York headquarters with the individuals
responsible for maintaining the company's database of adult
smokers who have expressed a willingness to receive promotional
materials from Philip Morris.
Interviews in New York with the managers of fulfillment for
PMUSA's Marlboro brand and other premium brands, who
oversee product fulfillment for all promotions relating to their
respective brands (e.g., the recent "Marlboro Unlimited"
campaign, and catalogue promotions involving other premium
brands, such as "Club Cambridge").
Visits to PMUSA's Consumer Affairs department in New York
and Quality Assurance department in Richmond, during which we
interviewed personnel responsible for handling consumer
complaints and inquiries, reviewed the master logs and other
systems that PMUSA introduced to control the dissemination of
cigarette product poupons, and examined relevant background
documents.
Doc# : D C 1:50152.1 1317 A

18
1. Database Manag_ement. We have confumed to our
satisfaction that it was PMUSA's policy prior to the commencement of the
AAA program to obtain written verification of a consumer's age (on an Age
Verification Form; or "AVF")31 before adding the consumer's name and other
descriptive information into the company's direct marketing database. We were
informed that the institution of the AAA program necessitated only one change
to the procedures employed by the database development group: namely, that
the language in the AVF that formerly expressed the consumer's willingness to
receive cigarette rop ducts in the mail was revised to refer to product coupons.
The information provided to us indicates that this change was instituted
promptly upon the announcement of the AAA program.
Our findings with respect to this program element are as follows:
3/
A visit to the PreCon facility in Richmond, which functions
primarily as a contract assembler of special package types of
Philip Morris brand cigarette packs and cartons (e.g., two-for-one
packages) that cannot be produced efficiently at PMUSA's highly
automated manufacturing plant. Prior to the institution of the
AAA program, PreCon was involved also in the packing, labeling
and mailing of cigarette packs and cartons to consumers who were
participating in catalogue redemptions or other PMUSA marketing
promotions.
A review of several categories of background documents,
including internal correspondence relating to the coupon
fulfillment program, formal policies and procedures relating to
coupon control and dissemination, order fulfillment guidelines and
procedures, random samples of records obtained from the
Consumer Affairs and Quality Assurance departments (as
described below), and correspondence between PMUSA and
Catalogue Resources, Inc. ("CRI"), a company that provides order
fulfillment services to PMUSA in connection with catalogue
promotions.
I
The operative language of a typical AVF is as follows: "By signing this form,
you certify that you are a smoker 21 years of age or older, and that you are
willing to receive cigarette coupons and branded incentive items in the mail,
subject to applicable state and federal laws."
D0cff: DC1:5Q152.1 1317A
