This reminds me of how PM is also fighting the plain packaging initiative of the Australian government, how Philip Morris, British American Tobacco, and Imperial Tobacco paid millions of dollars to a PR agency, the Civic Group, which told them to launch a campaign hidden under a third party like a retailers association. Thus was born the industry front group, the Alliance of Australian Retailers. See the link at the end for more details on this other true story!
Philip Morris-Mexico to warn about smoking dangers
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS September 24, 2010, 11:23AM ET
source: http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D9IEC4O80.htm
MEXICO CITY
Philip Morris-Mexico said it will start distributing cigarette packets with new, more graphic warning labels as required by an agreement with the country's health department.
The company, an affiliate of Philip Morris International Inc., said all of its cigarette packets will carry messages that warn about the dangers of smoking and the effects of second hand smoke.
Philip Morris said in a statement Thursday that starting Saturday cigarette packets from all of its 13 brands made at the company's two Mexico plants and sold all over the country will carry the new images and labels.
Mexican health authorities said there are 10.9 million smokers in Mexico and estimate half of them will die from smoking-related illnesses.
