" Camel held 45% of the U.S. cigarette market by 1923 while Philip Morris produced women's cigarette, described as "mild as May." The American Tobacco Company produced Lucky Strike for women and captured 38% of the market. The number of female teenage smokers increased three times between 1925 and 1935 alone. In the spirit of competition, the American Tobacco Company in 1939 launched Pall Mall, which made it the largest tobacco company in the U.S. Cigarette sales went up higher during World War II when cigarettes even became part of soldiers' C-rations with food. Tobacco companies sent free cigarettes to soldiers at war. When they went home, they were a steady source of income to these companies. Alongside in the 50s, more and new evidence about the link between smoking and lung cancer was turning up. Tobacco companies first denied the connection and hazard and introduced new and "safer" products with lower tar and with filters. P. Lorillard came up with Kent with the "micronite filter" in 1952. It was found to contain asbestos and production was discontinued in 1956. In 1953, Dr. Ernst L. Wynders experimented on cigarette tar and discovered that it produces tumor when placed on the backs of mice. The following year, R.J. Reynolds produced and marketed filtered Winston brand and the first filter-tipped menthol Salem brand (Randall).
The 1964 Surgeon General's Office report on "Smoking and Health" allowed and helped the government regulate the advertising and sale of cigarettes (Randall 1999). It was during this decade when many health hazards to tobacco smoking were reported. Television cigarette ads were banned in Great Britain in 1965. Health warning labels began to be placed on cigarette packs by 1966. On account of adverse publicity, the major tobacco companies begin to diversify or change their image. Philip Morris bought the Miller Brewing Company for its Miller Lite and Red Dog Beer and to aluminum R.J. Reynolds Tobacco changed its name to R.J. Reynolds Industries. American Tobacco Company also changed its name to American Brands, Inc. Cigarette ads were finally stricken off from TV in the U.S. In 1971. But cigarettes have remained the second most heavily advertised products next only to automobiles. The 1979 Surgeon General's Office report publicized the health consequences of smoking on women. It was based on the increasing rate of women smokers who were influenced by the ad campaign of Virginia Slims (Randall).
Many lawsuits were filed against tobacco businesses in the 1980s because of the harmful effects of their products (Randall 1999). More public places began to ban or discourage it. The Surgeon General came farther by reporting in 1982 that second-hand smoke could cause lung cancer. Cigarette smoking was restricted in public places and especially in workplaces. Phillip Morris diversified further and bought General Foods Corporation and Kraft Inc. In 1985 R.J. Reynolds bought Nabisco and changed its name to RJR/Nabisco. Smoking in all domestic flights of less than 2 hours was banned by Congress in 1987. In 1990, it was banned in all domestic flights, except in Alaska and Hawaii. In the 80s and the 90s, cigarette marketing looked out of the U.S. And focused on developing countries in Asia. Recent evidence suggests that the tobacco industry had known all along about the harmful effects of their products but continued producing and marketing them. They also knew about the addictive property of nicotine but took advantage of public ignorance about it (Randall).
Tobacco Regulation
Commercial producers and promoters of tobacco have been subjected to different regulations in the past 360 years (McGrew 2010). Damage to health has been pointed out by social and medical opponents but tobacco has also been a strong source of State and federal revenue. These regulations have prohibited smoking in various places and times but not throughout the United States. Opponents push for regulations to suppress the habit and addiction. Promoters focus on the regulation of the quantity and quality of products. The strongest movement against tobacco was waged by Lucy Gaston of the Women's Christian Temperance Union in the 1890s. She succeeded in lobbying for the passage of legislations between 1895 and 1921, favoring her cause. These banned the sale of cigarettes in 14 States and smoking in public places by women. The National Education Association pooled efforts to protect the young from cigarette smoking by stressing the high ideals of American manhood. The National Congress of the PTA committed itself to the same mission. The sad experience of the Prohibition, the spread of the tobacco industry, the need for new sources of State revenue and the established popularity of cigarette smoking altogether frustrated the rising opposition force. Federal income from high tobacco sales went higher because of increased cigarette use and advanced rates. By 1937, the 14 States immediately imposed taxes on cigarettes. By 1950, all 50 States banned the sale of cigarettes to minors. Today, the sale of cigarettes is restricted to age 18 in most States, later lowered to age 15 in 11 States. The Tobacco Merchants Association places the liability...
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