Big Tobacco's Marketing Schemes

The tobacco industry spends about $12.5 billion on advertising and promotions in a year. Find out how they’re targeting you.

In 1984, a tobacco company called younger adult smokers “replacement smokers.”
One cigarette company biologically engineered tobacco plants to have twice the normal level of nicotine.
The tobacco industry increased its spending on advertisements and promotions by $2.7 billion between 2002 and 2003.
In the past, Big Tobacco has compared the addictiveness of cigarettes with M&M’s.
Tobacco companies have been targeting women with their advertising for the last 80 years.
The 5 major smokeless manufacturers spent a total of $354.1 million on advertising and promotion in 2006, an increase from the $250.8 million spent in 2005.
In 1985, one tobacco company brainstormed targeting potential smokers in school bathrooms, playgrounds, YMCA’s, and city parks
Tobacco companies actually went to court to fight for the right to keep tobacco advertising near high schools. Then won. Congrats, Big Tobacco!
In 1995, a major tobacco company planned to boost cigarette sales by targeting homeless people. They called their plan “Project SCUM: Sub Culture Urban Marketing.”
As late as 1999, tobacco companies placed in-store advertising signage at a child’s eye level.

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