BAT Marketing Tobacco Products Using Text Messaging..

October 14, 2008 - In a move that anti-smoking lobbyists say is in direct violation of the law (South African Tobacco Products Control Act), Dunhill - a product of British American Tobacco (BAT) South Africa - has sent out mass Short Messages Sevice) SMS (SMS is used to send text meaages to mobile phones) to people promoting its new "limited-edition range". (Dunhill - 100th anniversary celebrations, has seen the launch of a range of limited-edition blends.)

BAT is trying to flout South Africa's tough anti-smoking laws, which have been designed to discourage people from picking up the habit.

Dr Yussuf Salojee, the South African executive director of the National Council Against Smoking - "I think the SMS is indicative of the desperate need of the tobacco companies to addict young people, and they will break the law to continue to profit from selling an addictive drug. The tobacco companies might be using this advertising strategy because they believed people would not report them. But we will lay a charge with the police. This is the first I heard of it, and if more people come forward with this complaint, we will definitely go to the police."

Salojee urged people who had received the SMS to contact the National Council Against Smoking on 011-720-3145 so that they could build a substantial case before going to the police.

Reference: Tobacco SMS sparks outcry by Lee Rondganger, www.iol.co.za, 10/13/2008.

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Social Smoking Still Dangerous to Your Health..

October 14, 2008 - About 19% of the 45 million smokers in the U.S. can be considered occasional or social smokers. These occasional smokers often believe they are avoiding the health worries typically associated with smoking but new research shows that even these cigarette smokers can impair artery function, a sign of looming heart disease.

Lee Stoner et al.,Occasional Cigarette Smoking Chronically Affects Arterial Function, Ultrasound Medicine & Biology 2008. ABSTRACT

In a small study, researchers at the University of Georgia recruited 18 healthy college students, half of whom were nonsmokers. The other half were occasional smokers, puffing less than a pack a week and had not smoked for at least two days before undergoing testing. The study used ultrasound scans to measure how the students’ arteries responded to changes in blood flow. The study found that the arteries of occasional smokers were 36 percent less responsive to changes in blood flow than nonsmokers. And after the occasional smokers underwent the initial test, they smoked two cigarettes and had their arteries re-examined. The arterial responsiveness dropped by another 24 percent compared to before they smoked.

It was concluded that occasional smoking can impair flow-mediated dilation and found that repeated bouts of cigarette smoking — even if classified as occasional — appear to increase the risk for developing cardiovascular disease in otherwise healthy, young people. The decrease in arterial function can last into the next week, if not longer.

Reference: Social Smoking Takes a Lasting Toll, Credit:Carolyn Kaster/Associated Press, 10/8/2008.

Related news briefs: The Vasoconstrictor Nicotine Causes Impotence in Men that Smoke.. and Nicotine – in any form – not safe...
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Reynolds To Roll Out Camel SNUS Nationally Early in 2009..

October 13, 2008 - RJ Reynolds (RJR) said it will roll out Camel Snus nationwide beginning early next year.

In a recent article it was written that Camel Snus, a smokeless, spitless tobacco product is being promoted as the industry's best bet in a post-smoking environment. So far, even with attempts at public awareness and educating the public the marketing of SNUS products in general in the United States (and Canada) has been poor.

RJR has tried just about everything: from providing coupons, to stationing people at bars and c-stores, to running ads in various publications. Where has this got them - surely they've given away more cans of Camel SNUS than have been paid for. Now based on information from a c-store owner the RJR salesperson for the last 3-weeks has given him at no charge 25-cans of Camel Snus Frost and asked for him to pass them out to those people that may be interested in giving it a try. Well - the owner can't even give the stuff away, even to dippers finally (he tells us) someone came into to the store and asked for Camel SNUS Original flavor and when asked was willing to take a bunch of the free cans.


It's doubted that Camel SNUS really gained market traction.

SNUS has failed to take-off elsewhere in the way it has taken off in Sweden (Simon Chapman, Queensland Independent, 10/2007). The Swedes have been using SNUS for over 200 years; it's a tradition--it's part of their culture.

UST executives have been very disappointed with the progress of the SNUS segment in total.> The entire segment itself has gained very little traction; we're struggling whether this segment is really going to take hold or not and whether an American consumer is really interested in this form of tobacco or not. (UST Inc. is a holding company for its principal subsidiaries: USSTC and International Wine & Spirits Ltd.. USSTC is the leading producer and marketer of moist smokeless tobacco products.)

A comment from a convenience store owner told us a Secret Shopper came in the store to determine if he would push the sale of Camel SNUS. He did mention Camel SNUS and won a $10 Walmart gift card. The owner did remark he made more with the gift card then he does with Camel SNUS in a whole month - he seldom sells a can.

Even with the Marlboro brand name Philip Morris USA (PM) has continued to stumble in the smokeless tobacco arena.. The Marlboro brand name is not as transferable as many originally believed. Unlike RJR, Altria is being financially disciplined in test marketing their smokeless products..

Is It Justified?? - R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Adding Test Cities for Camel SNUS, May 14, 2008.

TobaccoWatch.org

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Lower Trademark Value of Reynolds' Kool cigarette brand. .

October 13, 2008 - Back on September 10th we reported that R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company (RJR) subsidiary of Reynolds American, Inc. would be scaling back marketing and promotional support for its Kool menthol brand cigarettes.

As a result, RJR has moved Kool from a "growth" brand to a "support" brand. Under accounting rules, that triggered an analysis of the trademark's value. The reduction in Kool's value is due to the reduced marketing support the brand will receive going forward. With this change, R.J. Reynolds has two growth brands, Camel and Pall Mall.

Reynolds American Inc. said on October 9, 2008 that RJR will record a third-quarter pre-tax non-cash charge of approximately $175 million associated with the lower trademark value of its Kool cigarette brand.

Reference:
Change in Focus for Kool Triggers R.J. Reynolds Charge, MarketWatch.com, 10/9/2008.

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New York Public Library Cigarette Ad Exhibition..

October 13, 2008 - An exhibition hosted by The New York Public Library from October 7 to December 26, 2008 examines the historic advertisements in which tobacco companies claimed that smoking provided a range of health benefits. Admission is free. The exhibition curator, Dr. Robert Jackler, an associate dean of Continuing Medical Education at Stanford University, created the revealing look at the tobacco industry after his mother, a longtime smoker, was diagnosed with lung cancer. A related event featuring a lecture by Dr. Jackler, including the presentation of vintage video advertisements for tobacco products, will be held on Tuesday, December 9, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.

Reference: Historic Cigarette Ad Exhibition at The New York Public Library Showcases Deceptive Campaigns, ArtDaily.com. 10/13/2008.

Click on image to enlarge.. - Spud cigarettes were the very first menthol cigarette. Menthols were most consistently thought of as something to change to when one has a cold, a very bad cough or a dulled palate. More on the Growth of Menthol Cigarettes.

From our collection of Art Deco Spud ads.
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