Big news for big tobacco haters!
The Justice Department wants large cigarette manufacturers to admit they LIED to the public about the dangers of smoking.
About time!
The Justice Department’s 12-year-old lawsuit aims to force the tobacco industry to pay for an advertising campaign of self-criticism for past behavior.
The government released 14 statements on Wednesday that they feel the companies should make in their self-scathing advertisements. Here are just a few:
“A federal court is requiring tobacco companies to tell the truth about cigarette smoking. Here’s the truth: … Smoking kills 1,200 Americans. Every day.”
“We falsely marketed low tar and light cigarettes as less harmful than regular cigarettes to keep people smoking and sustain our profits.”
“For decades, we denied that we controlled the level of nicotine delivered in cigarettes. Here’s the truth. … We control nicotine delivery to create and sustain smokers’ addiction, because that’s how we keep customers coming back.”
Wow! That’s pretty straight forward, but we’re wondering if even this direct statement from tobacco companies will stop smokers from puffing. After all, a recent study from the CDC said that despite all of the anti-smoking awareness and smoking bans, cigarette smoking has not decreased since 2008.
However, big tobacco isn’t going to give in without a fight. Phillip Morris, the nations top-selling cigarette brand, said in a statement:
“Such a proposal is unprecedented in our legal system and would violate basic constitutional and statutory standards.”
A judge, who previously ruled in 2006 that tobacco companies have concealed the dangers of smoking for decades, approved to place the 14 statements from the Justice Department in public record.
Although the judge has said she wants the tobacco industry to pay for corrective statements in various types of ads, both broadcast and print, she has not made a final decision on what the statements will say, where they must be placed or for how long.
Well, we wish the Justice Department the best of luck as they pursue this case and we hope to see these statements bombarding us everywhere we go!
We just hope that people who smoke or are considering starting can FINALLY take a hint.
[Image via AP Images.]