72. Nonconsumption of boycotted goods
Rejection of boycotted products may be extended to the point of not using them even though they are already in one‘s possession, when their use would therefore not involve any further consumer’s boycott, but the latter can exist without the former. The nonconsumption method facilitates social pressure against purchase of the good, for no one can excuse himself by saying he already had the items. Although it is rare and is largely auxiliary to a consumers’ boycott, this method has been regarded as a distinctive type of action –for example during the American colonial noncooperation struggles. Nonconsumption was then listed with the nonimportation of British products and the various other “non’s” in the program. For example, one of the clauses of the Continental Association, the plan of resistance adopted by the First Continental Congress at Philadelphia in September 1774, declared:
As a non-consumption agreement, strictly adhered to will be an effectual security for the observation of the non- importation, we, as above, solemnly agree and associate, that, from this day, we will not purchase or use any tea, imported on account of the East-India company, or any on which a duty hath been or shall be paid; and from and after the first day of March next, we will not purchase or use any East-India tea whatever; nor will we, nor shall any person for or under us , purchase or use any of those good, wares, or merchandise, we have agreed not to import, which we shall know, or have[except for good imported between December I and February I and sold at the direction of the local committee, with profits going the relief of poor suffering from the relief of the poor suffering from the port of Boston].