Big...Bold.... WARNINGS

One significant change that you will see in tobacco product ads next month will be in the size and placement of warning labels. You probably remember joking with friends about the size of the current warning labels. It's likely that you joked at the absurdity of these tiny labels, off in the corner, that you have to get a magnifying glass out just to read. The image on the left shows the old way of giving warnings. Yes, it is there, but is it effective?
Looking at the image on the right, the joke about the warning is not as funny any more. This is a serious, substantial warning that is going to let people look beyond the colorful branding and the "freedom" Camel Snus is selling in their ads. The new ads must take up 20% of the ad.
While the warning labels say almost exactly the same thing (the only difference is "may" in the before warning label and "can" in the after warning label) the delivery of their message is entirely different. The label on the left is something people will take notice of and not just brush off like the old labels, at least according to some people. While this might not seem as first glance to be a wildly significant change, if it deters even 100 youth from picking up this product, that is worth it! That is 100 less youth who face a lifetime of addiction and the painful consequences of tobacco related disease.

There will be four different warnings including:

1. This product is not a safe alternative to cigarettes
2. This product can cause mouth cancer
3. This product can cause gum disease and tooth loss
4. Smokeless tobacco is addictive (a new warning)

Some researchers do not feel that these advertisements go far enough. There is that 80% of the ad that can still influence people. Take a look below at a mail piece we received in February promoting a special price on Camel Snus. 

Camel Snus can go to the club and never miss a beat. The implication here is that you can dance the night away with Snus in your mouth and never have to go out for a cigarette and miss you favorite song. Even with 20% coverage from a new, bolder warning the question remains if that will be enough to deter people. Will they still want to "Break-Free?" Or "Take a Bold Step?"

Chew on this

A hearing was held on Wednesday at the congressional level to discuss a prohibition of spit tobacco by Major League Baseball players. Currently, the use of smokeless or spit tobacco is prohibited in the Minor League. The Major League does prohibit players from smoking in public and while in uniform. Recent years there has been a rise in the use of smokeless products according to the CDC's Terry Pechacek. He was quoted in a Rueters article saying that the downward trend in smokeless use has been gradually rising in recent years. The increase is primarily among white and Latino males. 

The risks of smokeless tobacco are perhaps not as well known or in the public eye in the same way that the risks of smoking are. Spit tobacco is a cancer causing product with devastating, disfiguring effects. 

At the hearing the issue of banning spit tobacco in the Major League brought people from all sides of the issue to discuss the issue. Health advocates made the case that youth are influenced by their role models. Athletes are held in a particularly high position in our society and young children are highly influenced by their behaviors. Some players spoke in support of eliminating spit tobacco from the league. 

According to Greg Connolly, a Harvard Professor, about 1/3 of MLB players use chew. This high of a number definitely role-models the behavior and addiction to fans of all ages. Connolly also brought to light some of the social networking that young people are doing around baseball and spit tobacco. He read off the types of messages that Facebook users write to other users and the content was disturbing. One quote was "The bigger the dip, the better he plays!!" in reference to this young person's favorite player. Another interesting quote was " Baseball and Skoal... God Bless America!" A quick visit over to YouTube will also shed some light on how users influence other users all while protecting Big Tobacco's bottom-line and perpetuating addiction. 

Gruen Von Behrens (see pictures of before and after) also testified before the committee on the issue. For those who don't know Gruen, he is public speaker in schools who shares his story of cancer and spit tobacco. He started at age 13 and by 17 he was diagnosed with throat cancer. A video of his story can be seen here. 

To read the Reuters article click here.


To read the ABC article click here. 

As for the hearing, no decision has been made. Hopefully the Majors will join the Minors in saying NO! to spit tobacco.

Great Column from Wisconsin Rapids

The Wisconsin Rapids Tribune got it right with this column. Smokeless and spit tobacco products are an emerging public health issue. A recent study found 7% of high schoolers are chewing.

Read this great article here.

Marlboro taking Snus Nationwide

As we have discussed extensively on the blog here- new and emerging products are rapidly coming onto the market, both in test cities and nationwide. Good old Altria, owners of Phillip Morris (PMI) and makers of Marlboro brand (the cigarette of choice for more smokers than any other brand) are at it again. "Seeking future growth," Big Tobacco claims is the reason that Marlboro Snus is going nationwide. By the end of March every convenient store and gas station will be stocked full of these lethal products.

The truth is PMI knows that they can't stay in the cigarette market and maintain record margins of profits despite a major recession. They also know that cigarettes are not viewed as socially acceptable as they once were, thanks in large part to local, state, and national network of tobacco control activists. With their mainstay product falling from popularity Big Tobacco moves in for another kill- smokeless. Discreet little pouches with fun names like Snus and kid-friendly flavors like Frost. Let's be clear spit tobacco is no better for you than smoking. It is addictive, makes your teeth fall out and causes cancer. Maybe you won't die from lung cancer but losing half you jaw isn't too sexy either.
At any rate, PMI proves once again we must remain vigilant in fighting Big Tobacco. We must also watch out for Big Tobacco's dirty tricks. Many states base the tax on Snus on weight like moist snuff, aka weight-based tax. We in Wisconsin saw the trend for lighter products and have switched to a percentage of price model of taxation on other tobacco products. This ensures that products on taxed more similarly to cigarettes and less like the virtually weightless system Big Tobacco prefers.

Fear not... Lorillard joining smokeless market too!

 

Fear not blog readers... Lorillard is not to be outdone by its other Big Tobacco buddies! The makers of Newports have reached a deal with Swedish Match AB to make a new smokeless product for their US consumers. 

As we see the rise of smoke-free air laws all across the country, Big Tobacco has been hard at work to make sure they are still selling death, disease, and addiction. While Phillip Morris and R. J. Reynolds have gotten on the bandwagon early, Lorillard is joining the cause too. 

The plan for the makers of Newport is to create  a "snus" style product. 

So Wisconsinites- time to get your sluething hats on and be on the lookout for a snus product coming your way. The company has not released a timeline for the test marketing of their new product, but Camel has seen a small share of success with its Snus product and Lorillard is hoping to do the same. 

Madison is soon to be home to the National Summit on Smokeless and Spit Tobacco

Later this month, Madison will be the host of the 5th National Summit on Smokeless and Spit Tobacco. This is an exciting conference that will provide all the cutting edge information about smokeless and spit tobacco products. Below are just a few of the reasons you might want to attend:

1. This is the only national conference designed specifically to provide cutting-edge information and proven resources to fight against and reduce the use of smokeless tobacco products, a serious general and oral health threat to its users. Even with the promise of FDA regulation, smokeless tobacco will continue to be sold and cause disease in unsuspecting consumers. Get the latest information about what FDA regulation means.

2. More and more states and municipalities are going smoke-free. Big Tobacco has a plan in place. What's yours? Come gather with colleagues from across the US to find out what they're doing, and you can get started (or fine-tune) putting your plan into action.

3. How are youth impacted by Tobacco Industry marketing? Learn how young people around the country are fighting back!

4. Is smokeless tobacco really a safe alternative to cigarettes? Are these products helping smokers quit, or are we simply seeing more dual usage? At this conference you will hear about the latest research in smokeless tobacco and you'll learn what we need to say to the public about this growing health threat.

5. Many new smokeless tobacco products have recently been introduced into the market, constituting a new generation of nicotine delivery systems designed to appeal to a new generation of users. Do you know what these products are? Do you know how the industry is marketing these products, and to whom? This conference will enable you to answer these questions and be more effective in your your fight against these dangerous products.

6. Many people in your community think smokeless tobacco products are harmless. Do you know how to educate them about the truth? Come learn how.

Check out the website for full details!