What does the Tobacco Industry have to say?

"It is important to know as much as possible about teenage patterns and attitudes. Today’s teenager is tomorrow’s potential regular customer."
(Philip Morris, 1981: Market Research Report on young people)

"Younger adult smokers are the only source of replacement smoker… If younger adults turn away from smoking, the industry must decline, just as a population, which does give birth will eventually dwindle."
(RJ Reynolds Tobacco Company, 1984: Young Smokers - Strategies and Opportunities)

"We don’t smoke the shit, we just sell it. We reserve the right to smoke for the young, the poor, the black and the stupid."
(R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company)

"Very few consumers are aware of the effects of nicotine, i.e. its addictive nature and that nicotine is a poison."
(Brown & Williamson, Tobacco Company Memo, 1978)

"Realistically if Our Company is to survive and prosper over the long term, we must get our share of the youth market. In my opinion, this will require news brands tailored to youth market." (Claude Teague, R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company, 1973, Research planning Memorandum on Some Thoughts About New Brands of Cigarettes for the youth Market)

"They (13 year olds) represent tomorrows business."
(James Johnson CEO, R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company, 1994, in testimony before the House of Energy and Commerce Sun Committee on Health and Environment.)

"If you are really and truly not going to sell to children, you are going to be out of business in 30 years"
(Bennnett LeBow, Tobacco CEO)

"Tobacco products uniquely contain and deliver nicotine a potent drug with a variety of physiological effects."
(R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company, 1972, Resaech and Planning Memo)

"A massive potential market still exists among women and young adults, cigarette industry leaders agreed, acknowledging that recruitment of those millions of prospective smokers comprises the major objective for the immediate future and on a long term basis as well."
(United States Tobacco Journal, 1950, Cigarette Executives Expect Added Volume)

"We did not look at the underage market even though I am holding a document in my hand that says we did."
(EX-Phillips Morris President & CEO James Morgan, 1998, in videotaped testimony in Minnesota St. Paul Pioneer Press)

"We are trying very hard to influence kids who were 14 to start smoking."
(An Adam’s confession 1983, Medical Journal of Australia)

"Clearly those people who attend college but have not graduated are the more meaningful target for us."
(Letter to R.J. Reynolds from McCann-Erickson on the Less educated Smoker, bates Number 50461 7417)