THE HISTORY

Are tobacco companies responsible for addiction?

“[the] smoking of cigarettes offers and provides a desired mechanism for coping with the 
stresses of living … Once this mechanism has been experienced and 
used, physical and psychological habit patterns are firmly established and become 
self-perpetuating.“

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Do tobacco companies market towards young people?

  • Yes. The tobacco industry has explicitly aimed marketing at younger buyers, including high school students.
  • One internal memo revealed that that youth smokers are integral to business: “Younger adult smokers are the only source of replacement smokers… If younger adults turn away from smoking, the industry must decline, just as a population which does not give birth will eventually dwindle.” 
  • Youth marketing tactics have included everything from ads within children’s cartoons, promoting cigarettes as a tool of independence, and offering youth-friendly flavors. 

ADDICTION, HEALTH, AND BIG TOBACCO: A TIMELINE

Timeline showing approximately 1950-2000.

Major tobacco firms issue “A Frank Statement” in an attempt to sow doubt about the link between smoking and cancer.

Filtered, “light,” and “low‑tar” cigarettes are released during the 1960s. However, filters did not reduce harm despite the companies’ claims, and testing of the low-tar cigarettes drastically underestimated the amounts of tar they actually contained.

Internal memos from both 1981 and 1984 reveal youth-targeting marketing plans in order to create “replacement smokers.”

Philip Morris releases an ad reading “I know there’s no proof my smoke can hurt you” as a response to fears about secondhand smoke.

In U.S. v. Philip Morris, a court found that tobacco companies knowingly deceived the public about nicotine addiction, youth advertising, “light” cigarettes, and more.