Big tobacco queen R.J. Reynolds catches heat with the latest smoke-free New Year’s resolution message. The Winston-Salem based tobacco company is seemingly geared to snuff smokers from an unhealthy pattern – of future tobacco profit.
Balancing tobacco in a smoke-free world is key in future profit.
The recent holiday ads come with some critics fired up since the wording may give smokers who wish to quit a clear psychological path to further tobacco use. RJR’s “2011 Smoke-Free Resolution” Camel ad is more in debate than “Let it Snus” or “Season’s Snus’n”. Each ad comes with a “Break Free” Camel cigarettes logo and a container of Camel Snus in view.
Besides the holiday ads, the Camel Snus website shares an appealing view of a “spit-free, smoke-free, mess-free” snus experience that can be used in smoke banned areas. But as they say, never judge a product by the outspoken advertisement. It is what’s on the inside that counts.
Trade ingredients have always allowed big tobacco companies to keep users out of their closet. Trick advertising can divert the mind of users away from the dangers of tobacco use. Although large fonts along Camel’s page banner marks a strong reminder. “Warning: Smokeless tobacco is addictive.” Addictive.
To no surprise the Food and Drug Administration has an ad campaign, so to speak, of their own that can bury RJR packaging – or at least halfway. In June of 2009 the FDA was granted access to regulate labeling guides, marketing and most anything involving tobacco except nicotine and tobacco bans.
According to a November Fox News report the FDA and the Department of Health and Human Services had 36 warning labels to consider adding on tobacco products such as “smoking can kill you”. Once the study draws closer to the summer big tobacco companies are expected to alter their labels accordingly.
The additional warnings will cover up to half of a pack of cigarettes on both sides. Big tobacco companies must step up their present smoke-screen games if they want to remain in future business. And RJR is doing just that – changing up with the times even if it means being regulated and redesigned by the government.
Big tobacco has been flirting with the government since the first crop turned a profit. Through politics and state revenue tobacco has offered a North Carolina change in value. Side by side – on an opposite spectrum – the queen and king of big tobacco have been preparing for the inevitable switch from smoke to smoke-free products.
The same year the FDA was granted tobacco access the king of tobacco, Altria Group, Inc (formerly known as Philip Morris Companies, Inc) purchased UST, Inc. The deal supplied more smoke-free options for the market. Altria Group, Inc may have a profitable 2011 in this smokeless ring.
R.J. Reynolds will be closing the doors at a Winston-Salem and Puerto Rico plant by mid-2011. The Winston-Salem Journal reports of the closings potentially not having much of an effect on smoke-free tobacco production. Perhaps RJR’s “2011 Smoke-Free Resolution” was a mere business reminder.
source: examiner.com
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