State and Local Strategies of the Tobacco Industry
[Maryland Tobacco Legislation for Minors]
Abstract
States "the tobacco industry values greatly the support and assistance provided by Rite Aid Corporation over the years in challenging anti-tobacco legislation around the country." Clarifies industry position on Maryland S. 116, stating "the proposed legislation would change current law only by increasing the age of purchase from 'under 16' to 'under 18'," and adding "we have instructed our state legislative counsel in Maryland not to take a position on this legislation." Asserts "smoking is an adult custom and that the cigarette manufacturers do not want youth to smoke - as a matter of policy and a matter of practice." States hope "that we could continue to count on your support as the entire tobacco industry faces mounting pressure in the Congress, state legislatures and on the municipal level."
Fields
- Named Person
- CHERRY,JR
- Copied
- STATE ACTIVITIES POLICY COMM
- TIEC, EXECUTIVE COMM(TI)
- Region
- Maryland
- Author
- Mozingo, Roger L. (TI Lobbyist, Sr. VP, headed up state and local lobbying)Involved in state and local level lobbying for the tobacco industry. Was a Vice President at TI, in the State Activities Division in the 1970's & 1980's, later went to RJR. Roger L. Mozingo was Vice President of State Government Relations for RJR in 1994. (Source: R. J. Reynolds Summary - RJR Liability Notebook)
- TI, TOBACCO INST
- Recipient
- RITE AID
- DIENER,IH
- Subject
- Internal Policies
- legislation
- Politics
- Sales to Minors
- State Level
- Tobacco Industry
- youth access
- industry response
Document Images
i
THE TOBACCO INSTITUTE
1tt :, 1 S1ItF f:T. \c)ft7IiWFS7
WAtililACTON. 1)( _'tNmh
_1u: a;,--iHnu . HIIn -7_4~M1'Il
January 22, 1986
Mr. I. Howard Diener
Senior Vice President - Purchasing
Rite Aid Corporation
P.O. Box 3165
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17105
Dear Mr. Diener:
HO(;I:R I.. \iO7.1\'l:O
5~ niur 1 i I':r ul nl
tit,~t :1 li~it
The tobacco industry values greatly the support and assistance
provided by Rite Aid Corporation over the years in challenging
anti-tobacco legislation around the country. Because of this
relationship, I want to take this opportunity to respond to the
points you raised in your recent letter to several tobacco
manufacturing companies concerning pending "minors" legislation
in ilaryland (S 116).
You may be aware that it is the long-standing position of the
tobacco industry that smoking is an adult custom and that the
cigarette manufacturers do not want youth to smoke--as a matter
of policy and a matter of practice. In 1963-64, for instance,
the industry voluntarily stopped all advertising and promotional
activities in school and college publications and on campuses;
the industry also adopted a cigarette advertising code
prohibiting advertising, marketing and sampling directed at
young people.
As a general principle, then, it is our position not to be
involved in legislative issues dealing with "minors".
And, since the proposed legislation would change the current law
on by increasing the age of purchase from "under 16" to "under
18", we have instructed our state legislative counsel in
Maryland not to take a position on this legislation.
Retailers would be required to continue to determine the age of
each purchaser under the proposed legislation just as they must
now determine the age under current law.
If this bill passes the legislature, it would place Maryland
with over half the states prohibiting cigarette sales to ~p
"minors" under age 18.
CT~
~
G]
;
January 22, 1986
Page Two
I trust this is responsive to your concerns about the
Maryland legislation specifically, and that you can
understand and appreciate the industry position on "minors"
legislation generally. We would also hope that we could
continue to count on your support as the entire tobacco
industry faces mounting pressure in the Congress, state
legislatures and on the municipal level.
Please do not hesitate to contact me should you wish to
discuss this matter further.
Sincerely,
RLM:gc
cc: Tobacco Institute Executive Committee
State Activities Policy Committee
R E C E I V E D
,+ A N Z '! 1060
J. K. CHERRY, JR.
,~
