As early as 1998, execs from one major tobacco company discussed "covertly" contacting graffiti artists to paint for them in key locations.
Source
"Salem: Recommendations to "Plus" New York Test." Truth Tobacco Industry Documents. 13 Aug. 1998. Report.
http://legacy.library.ucsf.edu/tid/txs96i00/pdfRelated tags
More Facts
In 1996, a major tobacco company planned to boost cigarette sales by targeting homeless people. They called their plan"Project SCUM: Sub Culture Urban Marketing."
Source:
"Project Scum." Truth Tobacco Industry Documents. 02 Dec. 1995. 1-9. Report.
407
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1981: "Today's teenager is tomorrow's potential regular customer." Said a tobacco researcher whose company was definitely not targeting kids.
Source:
"PM USA Research Center - Young Smokers Prevalence, Trends, Implications and Related Demographic Trends." Truth Tobacco Industry Documents. 31 Mar. 1981. Report.
184
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Big Tobacco once proposed a brand targeting younger smokers, called Kestrel. A kestrel is a bird that preys on small rodents.
Source:
George-Perutz, Andrew. "Project Screen (Kestrel, Heron, Nightingale)." Truth Tobacco Industry Documents. 20 Jan. 1989. Letter.
141
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The most common causes of death among people with mental illness are heart disease, cancer, and lung disease, which can all be caused by smoking.
Source:
Tobacco Use Among Adults with Mental Illness and Substance Use Disorders (Secondary Source CDC Report)
48
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In an effort to market to African Americans in the 80s, one tobacco company said their brand "must be seen as authentic" and "not as a big white company's tactic to sell to blacks."
Source:
"Salem Black Initiative Program Brand Team Ideation Session." Truth Tobacco Industry Documents. 03 Aug. 1989. Report.
359
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In 1981, one tobacco company document said, "Hispanic men still strive to project a macho image."
Source:
"Salem Black Initiative Program Brand Team Ideation Session." Truth Tobacco Industry Documents. 03 Aug. 1989. Report.
140
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1 in 4 LGBTQ individuals smoke.
Source:
"Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Persons and Tobacco Use." Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 28 Feb. 2017.
63
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Big tobacco targeted people with mental health issues.
Source:
Preparation of a Scientific American Article in How Nicotine Works in the Human Brain April 9,1993 / RJR, Smith CJR
125
Reactions
"If they're really really not selling to children, we're all going to be out of business." -Tobacco Company Exec, 1998
Source:
"Salem Black Initiative Program Brand Team Ideation Session." Truth Tobacco Industry Documents. 03 Aug. 1989. Report.
227
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In 1989, one tobacco company's ideas for reaching minority customers included to "be seen as a friend," "build on black history," and "help them find jobs."
Source:
"Salem Black Initiative Program Brand Team Ideation Session." Truth Tobacco Industry Documents. 03 Aug. 1989. Report.
174
Reactions
In actual documents from 1991, Big Tobacco profiled various female mindsets. They described one type of woman by saying she "lacks control over her life," "feels vulnerable," and is "mainly negative about the future."
Source:
"Mindset Segments." Truth Tobacco Industry Documents. 03 Jan. 1991. Report.
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