[C-U Smokefree] Philip Morris's False Claims

[Theotskl at aol.com]

Hi all--

FYI.

Philip Morris has been going around wrongly claiming that they are partnering 
with the Public Health Community. 

Keep up the good work!

Cheers.

Dr. Theo Tsoukalas

(Originally from Prof.  Glantz's ListServe at Univ. of California-San 
Francisco 10/20/2004 listing)

Tobacco Free Kids Letter to Philip Morris

 

Recently, Philip Morris has suggested publicly (and inaccurately) that they
are working in partnership with the public health community.  Below is a
letter from the American Cancer Society, American Heart Association,
American Lung Association and Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids calling on
Philip Morris to stop making these false claims.

        October 19, 2004

        Louis C. Camilleri
        Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
        Altria Group, Inc.
        120 Park Avenue
        New York, New York  10017-5592

        Dear Mr. Camilleri:

        It has come to our attention that several executives of
Altria/Philip Morris have recently given speeches suggesting that your
company is in some way partnering with the public health community,
specifically citing our four organizations.  This is a completely false
characterization.

        Philip Morris should stop trying to borrow legitimacy from our
reputations and decades of work in tobacco control and public health.  As
the world's largest multinational tobacco company, Philip Morris remains a
primary contributor to the death and disease caused by tobacco use in the
United States and around the world.  In addition, more kids in the U.S. -
49.2 percent of smokers aged 12-17 - smoke Philip Morris' Marlboros than
nearly all other cigarette brands combined, according to the federal
government's National Survey on Drug Abuse and Health.  Philip Morris also
remains an opponent of such proven tobacco control measures as cigarette tax
increases and smoke-free workplace laws.

        Philip Morris' support of federal legislation our organizations
endorsed to grant the Food and Drug Administration authority over tobacco
products does not make us "partners."  We call on Altria/Philip Morris to
immediately cease such claims.

        Sincerely,


        John R. Seffrin, Ph.D.                          M. Cass Wheeler
        CEO                                                             CEO
        American Cancer Society                 American Heart Association


        John L. Kirkwood                                        Matthew L.
Myers
        President and CEO                                       President
        American Lung Association                       Campaign for
Tobacco-Free Kids
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