U.S. Tobacco Company Marketing To Youth Abroad
As tobacco companies go global and face even fewer marketing restrictions outside the U.S., they have clearly shown that they intend to return to their old deceptive ways to draw in young smokers. In August 2001, The New York Times reported that in other countries, Philip Morris hires minors as “Marlboro girls” to hand out free packs of Marlboros and other Philip Morris brands, with some of the free packs going to kids.29 A global survey of teenagers found that, in some countries, as many as 25 percent had been offered free cigarettes by tobacco-company reps.30 For instance, tobacco brands and labels are prominent on children and infant clothing and toys, and tobacco companies even own clothing stores using names of their most popular brands—like Camel Safari Boutique and Marlboro Classics. Tobacco companies continue to sponsor events that are popular with youth, such as music concerts, Formula 1 races and soccer teams.31