Thursday, August 30, 2012

Tobacco Companies hiding behind a smoke screen

http://www.cigarettesflavours.com/cigarettes-flavors/tobacco-giants-cower-behind-smokescreen/ Tobacco companies hiding behind a smoke screen? What do you think?

11 comments:

  1. After listening to the lecture from class on Tuesday and then reading this article it comes to no surprise to me that Tabaco companies would try to prevent its customers from becoming aware of the hazard smoking their product can be. When you are talking about an industry whose net worth is in the billions of dollars why would they want information being put out that might jeopardize their product. Obviously when it comes down to it they just want to make money. The selling of Tabaco is a business and like any business you are going to defend it and your products to any extent so that your company doesn’t fail. I’m sure they are not intentionally trying to kill people or put them at risk in any way but making money is far more important they worrying about someone they don’t know or probably never even met who is buying their product. And although, I would say putting out shady research that shows Tabaco isn’t harmful to you or trying to get around laws that have been put in place to reduce the amount of people consuming Tabaco is unethical; people consuming the product should be held accountable for their actions if the product being consumed is harmful to them considering it is not something they need to survive. I’m sure you wouldn’t blame a manufacture of a particular gun if a person used one of their guns to kill themselves. I know that a little more extreme but hopefully you get the point.

    ReplyDelete
  2. In Texas, the tax rate for tobacco products is based on the manufacturer’s listed net weight. So for an average package of cigarettes at the current Texas tobacco charge is $1.19 per ounce (which a pack of 20 averages about 1.1 ounces) which calculates to about $1.31 per pack. Then there is federal excise tax of $1.01 per pack of 20 cigarettes. Then there is a state and city sales tax of (in Tarrant County of 8.25%). The retailer must pay a permit fee to sell cigarettes and tobacco products ($300 annually) and the distributor, manufacturers with representation in Texas must also pay the $300 for a permit. Wholesalers who sell to the retailers must pay $200 per year for their permit. Now, don’t leave the federal government out – they collect $1.01 per pack of cancer sticks. All of this translates to a lot of tax revenue generated from tobacco sales, millions of dollars.

    All of this means big money for our federal, state and local governments – so does the government really want everyone to quit smoking? Doubtful Thomas says no. As an example research has shown that cigarettes with menthol make cigarette smoking easier to start and hardier to quit. This may be because menthol makes it easier to inhale more deeply. Congress in 2008 banned all flavorings in cigarettes except menthol. The people who are hit the hardest by this is the lower income families. So not only is the individual hooked on cigarettes but so are the politicians.

    Health is only a commodity to be bought and sold.

    ReplyDelete
  3. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  4. I have a neutral stance on the topic of tobacco companies. It should be the wright if the customers to purchase any products they like. Understanding that with every decision comes with consequences of their choices. However companies must have an act role in their customers in purchasing their products. I believe companies start off with good attentions and are there for the customers. However over time the companies lose sight of what is most important their clients. In today’s age tobaccos companies will go to ay lengths to get sell their products. Even if means their clients health and mental wellbeing. For example, tobacco companies use sublimtive advertising to sell their products. This would include TV and Billboards to sell their products

    ReplyDelete
  5. On this particular topic I truly believe in complete and total free will. I also think that some of the taxes on the sales of cigarettes should go into the fund (from the tobacco company's pocket) to help with the health care proven to be from tobacco products, not just cigarettes. As a corporation they will do whatever they can get away with (or not to heftily fined) to generate sales. If anything, shame on us for letting it get so out of hand...

    ReplyDelete
  6. I also have a neutral stance one the topic of tobacco, the consumer can buy whatever it is they please. If this is an issue in australia then the australian government should inforce laws against tobbacco companies to not sell or advertise their products to children.

    ReplyDelete
  7. With any major corporation, its all the same, its all about the money. However, the tobacco company is not shoving the cigarettes, or snuff or chew in peoples mouths, people are doing that all on their own. Knowing very well that it may cause some kind of illness or ailment later. Everyone has the freedom to make their own choices, and if you choose to do these kind of things you have to be prepared to accept the consequences that come along with it.

    ReplyDelete
  8. It's the consumers choice to smoke or not. We haven't had T.V or radio advertisements promoting smoking since 1971, yet we still have several smokers. So I don't think that making the packages less appealing would make to much of a difference in the amount of people smoking either. Most everyone knows about the risks of smoking, just like they all know about the risks of fast food, but that doesn't stop them from consuming it. I agree that the tobacco industry is like all business. They are putting out a product to make money. It's up to the consumers to purchase it or not, and the industry itself is not getting to advertise, plus they also put a warning label on the packages. So I don't believe that they should be responsible for the people who do choose to use their products. Their are a lot of business selling possibly harmful and unhealthy products, but you don't see them getting attacked as much as the tobacco industry.

    ReplyDelete
  9. U.S. gives people the choice to smoke or not. You do not have to participate in this activity but if you do then know the consequences. The economy uses the revenue of this plant. At the end of the day people will always buy tobacco products even they know the risk that involves with using it. This also goes with alcohol, we all know the risk but will we stop drinking it no. Alcohol and tobacco as been around to long and has always been used as a revenue when it brought into the U.S. With knowing this then it was already embedded when we decided to colonize America. It will never change and people should stop trying to make it. The bottom line is if you smoke then you have to pay the consequences like me. If you do not want the damage, then be like me and just do not do it.

    ReplyDelete
  10. The fact that it’s not the choice of the company to choose who smokes is the factor I look at I mean they are going to smoke if the package was good looking or not. And to be totally real smoking along with a lot of other bad habits have been in America forever so personally I feel that smoking will be around forever. So making the package change is going to change anything whoever thinks that changing them will work they need to rethink this whole situation. As a man or woman you have a choice and at the end of the day they made their choice to smoke let them deal with their choice and let them live.

    ReplyDelete
  11. I dont think that the tobacco companies are to blame here. I think they as business they have the right to advertise to try and sell their products just like any other company out there. People have the choice to but the products or not, they arent forced just by the advertising. Yes tobacco is not healthy for you, but what in excess isnt? Eating too much chocolate is bad for you but you dont see people attacking herseys or mars for their advertisment. I believe any company has the right to put their product out there but it is the choice of the consumer to purchase or not!

    ReplyDelete