Promotion Strategy of the Tobacco Industry
Class:L2 Name: Chu Cho Ting Student ID: 20268957
Title: Tobacco firms adopt tactics of ‘Dr Evil’ in battle against tougher regulation
Link: http://www.theguardian.com/society/2014/nov/01/tobacco-dr-evil-regulation-lobbyist
Date of the news: 1 November 2014
Some tobacco manufacturers in UK adopted a promotion strategy by backing a new organization that launches recently to defend the right of smoker and push the message that drinkers and fast food fans will be the next targets of health campaigners if smokers’ freedom are not respected.
It is a highly controversial issue for a business to financially support such organization to fight against tougher regulation and promote its product. On one hand it is reasonable for promoting the freedom of consumer choice and the rights of smokers. On the other hand, it is not likely to be morally acceptable to confuse the public by saying the right of drinking and eating fatty food will be destroyed if we do not defend the right of smoker.
In no doubt, there is problem of this behavior. First, as have mentioned, it will mislead the public. It describes itself as "dedicated to protecting consumer choices “Public may think that they have to defend the right of smoking in order to protect freedom of consumer choice later on. Obviously, it is not appropriate for food and drinks companies to jump into bed with the tobacco industry since smoking will bring serious sickness to one’s health while the others may not be. Also, those anti-smoking campaign may not damage the right of smokers. In fact, it is a warm reminding to public about the harm of smoking. Although the customer choice may be changed because of the anti-smoking campaign, it does not mean that the right of smoking has destroyed. Customers are still able to choose after considering the opportunity cost of smoking. So, the statement of “drinkers and fast food fans will be the next targets of health campaigners if smokers’
Title: Tobacco firms adopt tactics of ‘Dr Evil’ in battle against tougher regulation
Link: http://www.theguardian.com/society/2014/nov/01/tobacco-dr-evil-regulation-lobbyist
Date of the news: 1 November 2014
Some tobacco manufacturers in UK adopted a promotion strategy by backing a new organization that launches recently to defend the right of smoker and push the message that drinkers and fast food fans will be the next targets of health campaigners if smokers’ freedom are not respected.
It is a highly controversial issue for a business to financially support such organization to fight against tougher regulation and promote its product. On one hand it is reasonable for promoting the freedom of consumer choice and the rights of smokers. On the other hand, it is not likely to be morally acceptable to confuse the public by saying the right of drinking and eating fatty food will be destroyed if we do not defend the right of smoker.
In no doubt, there is problem of this behavior. First, as have mentioned, it will mislead the public. It describes itself as "dedicated to protecting consumer choices “Public may think that they have to defend the right of smoking in order to protect freedom of consumer choice later on. Obviously, it is not appropriate for food and drinks companies to jump into bed with the tobacco industry since smoking will bring serious sickness to one’s health while the others may not be. Also, those anti-smoking campaign may not damage the right of smokers. In fact, it is a warm reminding to public about the harm of smoking. Although the customer choice may be changed because of the anti-smoking campaign, it does not mean that the right of smoking has destroyed. Customers are still able to choose after considering the opportunity cost of smoking. So, the statement of “drinkers and fast food fans will be the next targets of health campaigners if smokers’