First, I apologize if there is already a thread for this, I looked and couldn't find it.
So, this week I found that big tobacco companies are buying big e-cigarette companies.
Video - Big Tobacco Looks to E-Cigarettes - WSJ.com
Is anyone else alarmed and frightened by this? I hear "big tobacco," and my instinct is to run far, far away.
This is my own analysis of the situation, but I would really like feedback from others who have a good understanding of the e cigarette industry to see if my conclusions are as reasonable as I think they are.
To me, this emerging trend is bad for everyone who touches e cigarettes: the consumer, business owners, the economy, and, possibly more. I know this may sound dramatic, but I'll explain why I think this.
Over the decades, big tobacco has proven to us that it is driven by two things: money and power. We are all aware that they added dangerous chemicals to make the cigarettes more addictive, to ensure people keep buying the cigarettes. I mean, they needed something to combat people wanting to quit for the right reasons. Why? Profit.
All smoking prevention / harm reduction initiatives by big tobacco are to manage reputation in a way that, 1.) minimizes regulation and lawsuits, and 2.) to keep smokers choosing to buy their brand of cigarettes. Why? Profit.
Below I provide my analysis of some key issues involved. Please let me know what you think!
Public Health Research in favor of E-Cigarettes
Optimistic electronic cigarette supporters have mentioned that big tobacco has the money to put into research and development to help the electronic cigarette industry. Anyone who has experience with research studies can tell you that it's not difficult to make studies say what you want them to say. Even if the FDA is involved to "regulate," you still have to be careful what to believe. I mean, how confidence do you have in the FDA to perform efficiently?
Research funded by big tobacco is not done so with the purpose of science, truth or health; the goal of the research would be to find ways to increase revenue and keep regulation at bay.
Economy
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/...rj-reynolds_n_1465533.html?utm_hp_ref=smoking
This article shares that RJ Reynolds (big tobacco) is supporting state-by-state studies on the "health effects of smokeless tobacco, potentially allowing the state to market smokeless tobacco as a healthier alternative to cigarette smoking."
What this is all about: big tobacco recognizes that the combination of evidence of the dangers of traditional cigarettes mixed with the public health initiatives to end tobacco use negatively impact the cigarette market. These "smokeless tobacco" products represent a HUGE new market for big tobacco; they represent the opportunity to make up for the profits lost through tobacco education and anti-smoking initiatives. If big tobacco can get the OK to market smokeless tobacco products as a "healthier alternative," that is a HUGE potential for profit increase.
How does this affect the economy?
Big tobacco has both the funds and friends to take over all of the smokeless tobacco markets and push the mom-and-pop shops out, like many people have said already. I think it would be stupid to think they won't try to do so.
Why would big tobacco do this? To gain control of the market share for all tobacco products, not just traditional cigarettes. If this is done, big tobacco will have less competition and essentially be in control of the whole tobacco industry - from e cigarettes, to eliquid ingredients, to advertising and messaging. And I'm sure we all understand that many, moderately sized retailers in the same industry is better for our economy than one giant superpower controlling the majority of the industry.
E-Cigarette Business Owners
Well, it's clear that big tobacco would have both the power and motive to put them out of business. These businesses that were built upon the principles of helping people emancipate themselves from their addiction to traditional cigarettes, and prevent further harm on the smokers and people around them. These mom-and-pop e cigarette retailers have built their businesses on helping reduce the harm on society caused by big tobacco in the first place.
E-Cig Consumer
Customer service will deteriorate. Product selection will shrink to what can be easily mass produced. In addition, if big tobacco companies become the main source of smokeless tobacco products, research and information, who knows what "tactics" they'll use to increase sales. Who knows what will be added to e-liquid, what changes will be made to the mechanics of the e cigarettes, etc. We already know we can't trust big tobacco.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but to me, it is insane to let big tobacco, the industry that has made BILLIONS off of the number one preventable cause of death in the US, take control of products that were intended to help alleviate the damage big tobacco caused in the first place.
So, this week I found that big tobacco companies are buying big e-cigarette companies.
Video - Big Tobacco Looks to E-Cigarettes - WSJ.com
Is anyone else alarmed and frightened by this? I hear "big tobacco," and my instinct is to run far, far away.
This is my own analysis of the situation, but I would really like feedback from others who have a good understanding of the e cigarette industry to see if my conclusions are as reasonable as I think they are.
To me, this emerging trend is bad for everyone who touches e cigarettes: the consumer, business owners, the economy, and, possibly more. I know this may sound dramatic, but I'll explain why I think this.
Over the decades, big tobacco has proven to us that it is driven by two things: money and power. We are all aware that they added dangerous chemicals to make the cigarettes more addictive, to ensure people keep buying the cigarettes. I mean, they needed something to combat people wanting to quit for the right reasons. Why? Profit.
All smoking prevention / harm reduction initiatives by big tobacco are to manage reputation in a way that, 1.) minimizes regulation and lawsuits, and 2.) to keep smokers choosing to buy their brand of cigarettes. Why? Profit.
Below I provide my analysis of some key issues involved. Please let me know what you think!
Public Health Research in favor of E-Cigarettes
Optimistic electronic cigarette supporters have mentioned that big tobacco has the money to put into research and development to help the electronic cigarette industry. Anyone who has experience with research studies can tell you that it's not difficult to make studies say what you want them to say. Even if the FDA is involved to "regulate," you still have to be careful what to believe. I mean, how confidence do you have in the FDA to perform efficiently?
Research funded by big tobacco is not done so with the purpose of science, truth or health; the goal of the research would be to find ways to increase revenue and keep regulation at bay.
Economy
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/...rj-reynolds_n_1465533.html?utm_hp_ref=smoking
This article shares that RJ Reynolds (big tobacco) is supporting state-by-state studies on the "health effects of smokeless tobacco, potentially allowing the state to market smokeless tobacco as a healthier alternative to cigarette smoking."
What this is all about: big tobacco recognizes that the combination of evidence of the dangers of traditional cigarettes mixed with the public health initiatives to end tobacco use negatively impact the cigarette market. These "smokeless tobacco" products represent a HUGE new market for big tobacco; they represent the opportunity to make up for the profits lost through tobacco education and anti-smoking initiatives. If big tobacco can get the OK to market smokeless tobacco products as a "healthier alternative," that is a HUGE potential for profit increase.
How does this affect the economy?
Big tobacco has both the funds and friends to take over all of the smokeless tobacco markets and push the mom-and-pop shops out, like many people have said already. I think it would be stupid to think they won't try to do so.
Why would big tobacco do this? To gain control of the market share for all tobacco products, not just traditional cigarettes. If this is done, big tobacco will have less competition and essentially be in control of the whole tobacco industry - from e cigarettes, to eliquid ingredients, to advertising and messaging. And I'm sure we all understand that many, moderately sized retailers in the same industry is better for our economy than one giant superpower controlling the majority of the industry.
E-Cigarette Business Owners
Well, it's clear that big tobacco would have both the power and motive to put them out of business. These businesses that were built upon the principles of helping people emancipate themselves from their addiction to traditional cigarettes, and prevent further harm on the smokers and people around them. These mom-and-pop e cigarette retailers have built their businesses on helping reduce the harm on society caused by big tobacco in the first place.
E-Cig Consumer
Customer service will deteriorate. Product selection will shrink to what can be easily mass produced. In addition, if big tobacco companies become the main source of smokeless tobacco products, research and information, who knows what "tactics" they'll use to increase sales. Who knows what will be added to e-liquid, what changes will be made to the mechanics of the e cigarettes, etc. We already know we can't trust big tobacco.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but to me, it is insane to let big tobacco, the industry that has made BILLIONS off of the number one preventable cause of death in the US, take control of products that were intended to help alleviate the damage big tobacco caused in the first place.
Last edited by a moderator:
