Blog#6 Marlboro ad

Blog #6

Marlboro ad

Matthew Beasley

           Although I personally feel that it is counterproductive to advocate for the elimination of tobacco ads toward children, while at the same time have a flashing ad on your site promoting e-cigs. I am glad to see that the global community it trying to stop tobacco companies from having marketing strategies that are geared towards teens. It seems that tobacco companies are never going to learn that it is just plain wrong to market addictive and deadly products to minors. The new Marlboro ads again are advising consumers to be rebellious, be a risk taker, be Marlboro. The ads of course are filled with attractive young people jamming to hip-hop music, all while doing fun and adventurous things. It would seem like these companies would get it after years of fines, court room battles and a ton of negative media coverage; but they either just do not care, or are too dumb to realize that these ways of marketing tobacco products is not going to be tolerated. Maybe though that is Phillip Morris's point.

              Maybe the tobacco company is banking on people like me that will see these articles and talk more about tobacco, which in turn bring more attention to tobacco. To get attention is their main focus anyway. It is great though to see so much cooperation throughout the globe on bringing attention to things that can harm others. It shows there is a conscientious global awareness that is looking out for companies that take advantage of areas where the laws are more relaxed. Phillip Morris started this ad in Germany where it took almost two years before it was banned. Again I think Phillip Morris knew the ad would get banned but figured they can put out ads that they know will cause a great deal of controversy, and their harm will already be long done before a country decides to remove it. After two years it seems like a normal time for a new ad anyway. So why would Phillip Morris care if it is removed now? I feel it is great to come together to stop things that are harmful to the innocent members of this planet, but I wish it would not have to seemingly always be done after the fact. I propose it would be a good idea to have a general over-site committee that would have to approve tobacco commercials. The individual companies certainly cannot be left to decide, because clearly they do not wish to change their strategies, as stated at the end of the link. The company argues that it is a subjective viewpoint that they are targeting youths with their ads. Not plain common sense!