''In Proft we trust'' - The corporate responsibility of tobacco companies.

What do you think about the responsibility of the Tobacco Companies?

an average person thinks that the light cigarette is much better for them then otherwise, which is false, and the tobacco companies are letting it slide.
Do you believe people should be alerted, not from other people, but from the Corporations themselves?

87% of teen smokers smoke the 3 most heavily advertised brands (compared to less than half of adult smokers).
Such would suggest that the Tobacco companies do advertise to teenagers, no?

What are your thoughts?

This isn't about weather its good to smoke or not, its about Corporate responsibility - do you believe Tobacco Industry is responsible enough?
Do you believe they are knowingly risking the health and life of general public in the name of profit?

Discuss.

People should be aware of the risks of anything they do............

Do you believe its misleading to fail to mention certain facts about smoking, such as that the light cigarettes are as damaging as the normal ones?

It is not the responsibility ofthe Tobacco Company to educate the people. If someone puts their cat in a Microwave it shouldn't be the resbonsibility of the Microwave company. Now if the Government would create a law that for example forcces Tobacco Companies to proint a warnign on their Cigarettes (like it is currently done in the EU) that would be alright. But if there is no such law why the hell should the coorporations care.

I don't think it would stop anyone from smoking "lights" people enjoy the feeling it induces.......

Anyway I hate cigarettes, cigars, dip, chew.......the tobacco industry is bad however freedom to choose is imporant.......

I just wish that people that choose this route would have a better grasp of what they are really doing (costing the rest of the population TONS in healthcare)

So anyway Lil I think most of the tobacco industries advertising comes from word of mouth and so many people do it because others do it.....at least here in the Mid-West USA....its like the marboro red smokers capital of the world it seems.

Most people in England think smoking weed is more dangerous than cigarettes. 😐

Originally posted by eggmayo
Most people in England think smoking weed is more dangerous than cigarettes. 😐

Originally posted by Bardock42
It is not the responsibility ofthe Tobacco Company to educate the people. If someone puts their cat in a Microwave it shouldn't be the resbonsibility of the Microwave company. Now if the Government would create a law that for example forcces Tobacco Companies to proint a warnign on their Cigarettes (like it is currently done in the EU) that would be alright. But if there is no such law why the hell should the coorporations care.

So basically what you're saying is if a food company for example, was selling a product which containes poison, its not their reposnisbility to tell you so. You should just conclude that after enough people have died to point to the evidence that such might be true?

If a car manufacturer was makign cars whic would explode after certain milage, its not their reponsibility to tell you so...?

Whos responsibility is it then?

Well honestly people are like sheep, and swallow what ever they're told....though it would be nice to offer some info on products,.....actually people need to start thinking and researching things for themselves....the thing is that most people won't....again it's ignorance is bliss.....

http://www.philipmorrisusa.com/en/health_issues/low_tar_cigarettes.asp

On their website they give you assistance to quit if you want and the possible repercussions of light cigarettes as well as what light means.....

Originally posted by lil bitchiness
So basically what you're saying is if a food company for example, was selling a product which containes poison, its not their reposnisbility to tell you so. You should just conclude that after enough people have died to point to the evidence that such might be true?

If a car manufacturer was makign cars whic would explode after certain milage, its not their reponsibility to tell you so...?

Whos responsibility is it then?

Basically if selling poison was allowed then yes. It isn't though. Same with the cars. It is illegal. Selling tobacco isn't. If you want to make it legal that's a whole different issue. And the side effects of smoking are very well known. At least over here.

It is the responsibility of a Corporation to make profits for it's shareholders. It is the responsibility of government to make sure corporations behave ethically. Unfortunately corporations now so thouroughly control government that they basically ARE the government.

Originally posted by Bardock42
Basically if selling poison was allowed then yes. It isn't though. Same with the cars. It is illegal. Selling tobacco isn't. If you want to make it legal that's a whole different issue. And the side effects of smoking are very well known. At least over here.

FYI, there is such a thing as Corporate Responsibility Law, just like there is a law about false advertising.

Ford, if you remember sold all those cars, KNOWING that they are faulty and will kill people. Why? Because it was cheaper to pay off court and victims, then to modify cars.

So the qestion remains - there is a law which forbids murder. Selling someone something you know will kill them, but then not giving them right information about is a murder.

That then is no different then me selling poison to child on the street and telling them its something different. Is it my reponsibility to tell the kid it will die if it takes it, or is my reponsibility to earn £5.

Would I go to jail accused of murder? Yes, probably.

So its not ok for an individual, but its ok for a companty? How is that?

Originally posted by soleran30
http://www.philipmorrisusa.com/en/health_issues/low_tar_cigarettes.asp

On their website they give you assistance to quit if you want and the possible repercussions of light cigarettes as well as what light means.....

edit

Just look at the last line - it claims that there is a differance between light and medium, when it has been proven that they are equaly cause cancer.

I think those companies should give clear information and they should put some harsh warnings on them like the shriveled up lungs like in Europe.
Then people can't say nobody warned them.

Yup mostly its flavor from what smokers tell me......however they do disclose alot......they are legally posioning the public however they are following all the guidlines that the govt and other groups have set forth........such is the nature of business

Anyway smoking started a LONG LONG time ago in a country far far away.....ok anyway people have smoked forever Indians before settlers even came to the USA.......so now someone makes alot of money from it.

Wow, you are going out of your way now assuming that cigarettes a)kill at all and b)kill everyone who smokes.

As for the Corporate Responsibility Law, it is not practiced like that for the Tobacco industry, nor for the Alcohol Industry (which for your information causes more deaths (absolute)), so why should it be started now? And if someone nowadays doesn't know that Smoking might be raise the risk for cancer and such well , maybe they deserve it then.

Ford: That was a different time, and I don't try to justify it, but if something like that would happen today ...well...you said it yourself: Corporate Responsibility Law.

No it is, Poison will kill the consumer (Tobacco won't necessarily, if at all), Poison is illegal to sell (Tobacco isn't), you would lie in telling that it's not Poison (Tobacco is sellt as what it is: Tobacco)

It wouldn't be alright for companies either, good thing they don't, eh?

This is the way I look at the situation.

I smoke. I have always known that it was dangerous and bad for my health. I began smoking out of peer pressure, just like 90 percent of the people who do. But, beyond that, I like it. I like the feeling.

Now, how many people in this world think that when thye're standing over a campfire that it's good for them to stick their head in the pilar of smoke and inhale? No one. So, the real issue here is should a corporation that has been selling their product, despite it's risks, be held accountable for the stupidity of the part of the population that does smoke?

No.

And as for all these people who started smoking before the warning was on the package...well, the government has no buisness prosecuting them. Why? Because the government was supporting it. They got part of the profits AND the promoted it.

Soldiers were rationed smokes in both WW1 and WW2. If the government wants to sue the cigarette companies, then they should be matchihng those settlements dollar for dollar.

Originally posted by lil bitchiness
edit

Just look at the last line - it claims that there is a differance between light and medium, when it has been proven that they are equaly cause cancer.

But, people are stupid. I addressed that in my last post. The reality is that the warning placed on the cigarettes states, no matter the flavor/brand/light/medium/etc, that the cigarette will kill you in the long run.

Clorox doesn't tell you how the liquid will kill you...just that it's harful or fatal if swallowed. How much is enough?

People need in get self educated on things themselves.....It's called taking responsibility for themselves.....again and again people won't and then sue.........Hey Mc Donald's coffee is hot.....gee, do you want it cold....oh should we post a label on it "Coffee is hot, beware"...ok it's not on there....OH, it burned me.....So I'll just sue you.....People need to start opening up their little tiny brains and do some thinking before engaging in anything.