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Smoke and mirrors? What a Tangled Web (Site) They WeaveBy Rick Horowitz WELCOME TO THE WEB SITE OF THE PHILIP MORRIS COMPANIES INC., makers of the world's finest consumer products. The 144,000 people of Philip Morris, living and working in more than 150 countries, make the finest quality products found in homes and around the globe, including products marketed under the Kraft Foods and Miller Brewing labels. In our spare time, we also produce a few cigarettes. Click here for a list of the cigarette brands marketed by Philip Morris. WHY A WEB SITE? This newly installed web site is part of a $100 million effort to better communicate with the American people, and to ensure that our message of responsible corporate behavior is more effectively conveyed to the public at large. In layman's language: We've been getting slammed lately, and we don't like it one bit. Click here to view one of our heartwarming new TV ads, showing the positive contributions Philip Morris companies make to their communities when they're not compromising their neighbors' health. WHAT ABOUT SMOKING AND DISEASE? There is an overwhelming medical and scientific consensus that cigarette smoking causes lung cancer, heart disease, emphysema and other serious diseases in smokers. Smokers are far more likely to develop serious diseases, like lung cancer, than non-smokers. There is no "safe" cigarette. This consensus emerged last Tuesday at about 2:45 in the afternoon, and nobody was more surprised than we were. Had we only known sooner about the many deadly risks related to smoking, we would certainly have shared that knowledge with potential consumers at the first opportunity, instead of denying any connection as strongly as we could for decade after decade. We had no idea! Click here to see if you qualify to purchase the Brooklyn Bridge. IS SMOKING ADDICTIVE? Cigarette smoking is addictive, as that term is most commonly used today. At first glance, this statement may appear to contradict the sworn testimony of numerous tobacco-industry executives appearing before Congress and other investigative and judicial bodies. It all depends on how addicted you are to the most commonly used definition of "addictive." Click here for alternative definitions of the word "addictive." (Note: Special browser software may be necessary.) ARE CIGARETTES BAD FOR KIDS? We are very proud of our cigarette brands and the advertising campaigns that have supported them. The decision to smoke is an adult decision made by countless adults every year; our advertising is directed entirely to those adults. That's why we can continue to pour hundreds of millions of dollars into our ad campaigns with a clear conscience: We know that advertising has no effect on children. Click here if you believe in the tooth fairy. BUT WON'T SOME KIDS SLIP THROUGH THE CRACKS? While there will always be the occasional teenager trying to act as "cool" and "sophisticated" as the adults we feature in our ads, we are doing everything possible to prevent teen smoking (consistent with current corporate practices and shareholder expectations.) We're particularly proud of the programs we've supported across the country that require merchants at convenience stores and similar establishments to check the IDs of young customers seeking to purchase cigarettes. Click somewhere else for the latest evaluations of how effective these programs have been. WHAT HAPPENS NOW? The people of Philip Morris are working to make a difference. We're tired of being sued by every Tom, Dick and Harry with a hacking cough and a chip on his shoulder; we don't want to be bled dry by a whole new generation of smokers saying they just "didn't know." So we'll try a little candor for a change. As for the people we may have misled all this time: Hey, we're sorry, but business is business. Click here if you're willing to let bygones be bygones. Posted 10/15/99.
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Rick Horowitz