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Ethical issues with tobacco companies
Ethical issues with tobacco companies
Tobacco industry and ethics of advertising
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Smokers Want to Sue Many smokers today believe that they have the right to sue tobacco companies for the illnesses that they have due to the tobacco products. I believe that the consumer of the products should not be able to sue the tobacco companies, because the consumer knew what they were getting themselves into. All companies sell their products strictly to make money. A tobacco company sells tobacco for the same reason. No companies force the consumer to purchase the product. Tobacco companies do not make force people to purchase tobacco. The tobacco company may have a guilty conscience knowing that the product that they sell has led to many illness related fatalities, but once again the company did not for the product on the consumers. The tobacco company is not at fault for any of the illnesses, because the company did not make anyone go into the store, purchase the tobacco, and make the person use it. America is a free Nation. A nation of choice, but many Americans make choices that put their bodies at risk every day. This choice to use tobacco is one made daily by the user not by the producer. …show more content…
The consumer is the person who decided to spend their own money on a tobacco product, which they knew would impact their health. There are people all around the Nation that travel to schools just to better educate our young students about the problems that tobacco can cause. The consumers of tobacco may not be as well educated as they could be, but usually they have enough knowledge to know that tobacco can harm them. These consumers today are much more educated about the impact of tobacco, because there are many advertisements, such as commercials, that inform the viewer of the dangers of tobacco. The commercials use a scare tactic by showing a monster that is said to be not as dangerous as a cigarette, but is still very scary. Some older generations are at a disadvantage, because they did not have these
In conclusion, ethics has no place in the tobacco business and the rights and obligations that usually would apply for any other company would not apply to a tobacco company as the right to trade secrecy, information privacy or the right to get a customer to buy its products is nullified by the fact the tobacco industry itself is absolutely built to sell products that are scientifically proven to be carcinogenic and harmful to its users.
A consumer is a person who is seeking for products and services for personal, domestic and household use or consumption only.
The tobacco industry seems like a beneficial addition to our economy. It has basically been a socially acceptable business in the past because it brings jobs to our people and tax money to the government to redistribute; but consider the cost of tobacco related treatment, mortality and disability- it exceeds the benefit to the producer by two hundred billion dollars US. (4) Tobacco is a very profitable industry determined to grow despite government loss or public health. Its history has demonstrated how money can blind morals like an addiction that is never satisfied. Past lawsuits were mostly unsuccessful because the juries blamed the smoker even though the definition of criminal negligence fits the industry’s acts perfectly. Some may argue for the industry in the name of free enterprise but since they have had such a clear understanding of the dangers of their product it changes the understanding of their business tactics and motives. The success of the industry has merely been a reflection of its immoral practices. These practices have been observed through its use of the media in regards to children, the tests that used underage smokers, the use of revenue to avoid the law, the use of nicotine manipulation and the suppression of research.
“Killing Them Softly,” an essay by Jacob Sullum, addresses the issue of Senator Judd Gregg’s bill to give the Food and Drug Administration control over tobacco products. This bill would allow the FDA to make such decisions as halting tobacco companies’ marketing of safer tobacco products and reducing the nicotine content in cigarettes. Sullum argues that by giving the FDA the power to make such decisions, individual consumers would be disadvantaged and lives could possibly be lost instead of saved. If given control of such decisions, the FDA would not allow the introduction of safer tobacco products as they feel this will increase the number of smokers. They feel more people will begin using these products that are advertised as less harmful substances, whereas Sullum feels it would be better for people to change their habits to these “safer alternatives.” Sullum fails to consider benefits of relinquishing control to the FDA, however. By considering some of the positive results, Sullum might develop a different opinion and support the bill as he should.
The question is, who should be held accountable? And what should be done? There is clearly no way tobacco will never be outlawed, but I believe there should be tighter restrictions on age limits throughout the world, and restrictions on the materials that are used in cigarette processing. Who is just letting cigarette companies continue to poison people and cause cancer risk? Throughout my essay, I will analyze the affects of cigarette use on the society of the world and the elaborate corruption that keeps cigarette companies in business.
Smokers all over the United States in recent years have brought class-action suits against the tobacco companies. Plaintiffs argue that the tobacco companies had knowledge of the health risks that could be associated with smoking, but they chose to withhold this information from the public. Since they chose to withhold this information the companies should be responsible for the cost of their health problems. Smokers have been rather successful in this endeavor especially since it has been a scientifically proven fact that smoking causes lung cancer. In Florida alone smokers and their families were awarded 200 billion dollars (Thomas ).
Some actions should be taken on tobacco products because the risk of getting cancer is high. People vape everywhere in today’s society, blowing a massive amount of smoke that lingers in the air and could cause people nearby to cough or even children near it to cough. There needs to be a policy to ban cigarettes, it kills the smoker, in addition, it could kill the person exposed to the smoke from cigarettes. “The cigarette is also a defective product, meaning not just dangerous but unreasonably dangerous, killing half its long-term users” (Proctor). Cigarettes are not healthy in any way making it a defective product, it mainly kills the smoker rather than helping them.
... smokers and the rights of nonsmokers is quite complicated and will more than likely always be an issue in our society. It will always be an issue because the tobacco industry, an industry full of hedonistic executives, generates too much profit to be going anywhere anytime soon. A lot of smokers will continue to smoke, despite the warnings of health risks, while nonsmokers continue to express their right to clean air, and businesses will continue to face and make decisions to accommodate smokers and nonsmokers in an effort to not lose revenue. As for me and my opinion, I think that the rights of nonsmokers should come first, hands down. I think that having a smoke free environment that eliminates the potential, devastating consequences of tobacco smoke would be for the greater good of society and surpasses any temporary, fleshly effect that nicotine gives.
The tobacco industry is important to the economy. In 1991, worldwide tobacco sales exceeded $59.8 billion and in 1992 the industry was rated as one of the top one hundred advertisers (Pechmann and Ratneshwar, 1994). However, there are high prices to pay - socially, economically, and personally - as a result of this industry. Annual mortality figures indicate that cigarette smoking is the number one cause of preventable death in the United States. An estimated 390,000 people die each year of smoke related illnesses, which is greater than the combined mortality for cocaine, crack, AIDS, homicide, suicide, and alcohol abuse (Botvin, G., Baker, Botvin, E., Dusenbury, Cardwell, and Diaz, 1993).
The tobacco industry consists of many competitors trying to satisfy a specific customer need. Companies such as Philip Morris, RJ Reynolds, Brown and Williamson, and Lorillard hold almost the entire market share in the tobacco industry. While each company has different advertising and marketing techniques, they all target the same customer group. Tobacco companies try their best to generate interest in their particular brand or brands. Companies market a number of attributes that usually include, but are not limited to: taste, flavor, strength, size and image in order to distinguish themselves from competitors (Business Week 179, November 29, 1999). However, all tobacco companies are satisfying the same needs. Many long-time smokers are addicted to the nicotine in cigarettes. They smoke because the nicotine is needed to help them feel normal (Focus group). Many addicts go through withdraw without nicotine. All tobacco companies have nicotine in their cigarettes, which fulfills the need of long-time smokers. Other smokers depend on cigarettes in social settings. Many smoke to look sophisticated and mature. Tobacco companies make many kinds of cigarettes that target different groups. Social smokers may perceive certain brands as more sophisticated, and therefore they shy away from other lesser-known brands. For example, a person who smoked generic cigarettes at the bar may be perceived as uncultured. On the other hand, the smoker with the Marlboro Lights may be more socially accepted because they have a brand name product (Focus group). Many types of cigarettes cater to the many markets of smokers who want to portray a certain image in social settings. Tobacco companies do not create the need to smoke, but try to generate interest in their particular brand (Hays, New York Times, November 24, 1999). Overall, the tobacco companies satisfy consumer demand for the millions of adult Americans who choose to use tobacco by providing differentiated products to different target markets of smokers.
I think cigarettes and Prescription drugs are dangerous to be marketed the way they are. Cigarettes in other countries show images of what happens to lungs, teeth, tongue and face when a person smokes cigarettes. Currently cigarettes in the U.S still have reinforcing images and trigger words to market cigarettes. Prescription drugs are also blasted on t.v commercials showing their benefit but covering their symptoms by using tiny disclaimer letters at the bottom including stating symptoms really fast at the end of the thirty second commercial. It makes a difference that these products are legal because they are able to market reach customers who might have never been reached before. I think it would be right to single them out because they
Smoking is one of the leading killers in North America and innocent. people shouldn't die because of it. For years people have been smoking. in public thinking, "It's my body, I can do whatever I want to do." now that it has been proven that smoking not only harms the smoker.
.I believe that the Tobacco industry is unethical, They provide a product that causes addiction and eventual death if smoking continues thought the majority of a person’s life. I think that the tobacco industry needs to take more responsibility for their product. I believe they should do this by not advertising on the false image of being a cigarette smoker and focus on what consumers are actually going to receive for their money when purchasing cigarettes. They should focus on the feeling it gives people, and what the cigarette experience actually is in the most literal terms. Also cigarette companies should tell costumers upfront in easy to read labels the long term and short term effects of smoking to let people clearly know what they are buying and what it’s effects are.
The sale of cigarettes and tobacco is a multi-billion dollar industry, but is it truly worth all the problems that stem from their use. Health care costs are extremely high due to all the health problems associated with cigarettes and tobacco. Even though research has proven time and time again the harmful effects of cigarettes, and the rising cost of health care caused by cigarettes our government will not take a stand and stop all manufacturing of the horrible toxins.
who.int - a. Almost 80% of the worlds smokers are middle class to lower class. This statistic that was taken from the World Health Organization, W.H.O., shows that around the globe it is the less educated making these choices. Big brands like Marlboro spend 70% of their profits on advertisements in 3rd world countries to try and get the people who do not know the consequences of smoking. In total tobacco companies spend over ten billion dollars on advertisements world wide. The advertisements that are going on on the covers are cartoon animals and images that show if you smoke you will be free.