Tobacco Company Sponsorship and Promotion; "No Thanks, Big Tobacco"
The “No Thanks, Big Tobacco” campaign is on going across New York State. Our plan is to bring attention to the fact that tobacco companies have, and continue to try to influence the community through sponsorship of public events and charitable giving. We ask the public to weigh the benefits of Tobacco Company giving vs. community beliefs.
The Cayuga County Tobacco Free Partnership (CCTFP) along with our youth organization partner, Reality Check of Cayuga County is organizing this campaign. We believe that our community should share common goals and values, where promotion of tobacco use and the distribution of money from a product that causes death and destruction are not acceptable.
The CCTFP is comprised of individuals and organizations that share our goals of promoting a healthier Cayuga County by reducing the social acceptance of tobacco use, limiting and reducing exposure to secondhand smoke everywhere and helping people get the services they need to quit smoking. The CCTFP is a program of the Cayuga County Community Health Network. Funding is received from the New York State Department of Health, Bureau of Tobacco Use Prevention and Control.
What We Want to Accomplish
The "No Thanks, Big Tobacco” campaign is asking non profit organizations, agencies, event planners and businesses like yours to adopt a policy stating they will not accept any funding (cash or in-kind) from the tobacco industry. See a copy of the policy here (link). See who else in our community has already signed on (link).
Why are we doing this? The tobacco industry and its products cause more death and disease than any other product in the world. 90% of current smokers started smoking before the legal age. Over 4,000 kids try smoking for the first time everyday in this country. There are over 24,000 deaths in New York State alone every year from tobacco use. Some of those deaths occur here in Cayuga County.
Over the last 3 years (2004-2006), local Medicaid costs for tobacco related illnesses only has been $6.4 million. Cayuga County has one of the highest smoking rates in New York State at 30%. Compare that 30% to an 18% state rate and a 20% national average. The perpetuation of the myth that smoking hurts only the smoker is wrong. Smoking and tobacco use hurt all of us; in the physical and financial toll it takes on our community.
Tobacco companies like to have their name aligned with good causes. One might wonder if such good deeds are a smoke screen to prevent the public from asking too many questions about tobacco company marketing tactics. Keeping their name in the public eye is a way to promote a positive image and to be seen as a “good corporate citizen”. Promotion increases sales, cues smokers to light up and put off quitting and entices youth to start smoking. In essence, their survival counts on selling cigarettes. Accepting donations from a tobacco company might cause one to ask if that organization accepts the tobacco company policies and practices along with the money?
Ever since the signing of the Master Settlement Agreement in 1998, most tobacco advertising has been curbed in order to stop targeting children. Tobacco companies have had to find other venues to keep their names and by extension, their products in the public eye. There are no restrictions on corporate giving or sponsorship. Recent lawsuits, negative press and a decrease in smoking rates haven’t made tobacco company executives happy. It’s no wonder they try to get some positive PR by making donations to local charities or by sponsoring events.
“Tobacco company sponsorship has the same effect on children as traditional tobacco product advertisement and promotion". (Cornwell, T Betina, and Maignan, Isabella. “An International Review of Sponsorship research.” Journal of Advertising, 1998: 27(1): 1-21.)
“Tobacco sports sponsorship, in particular, influences youth attitudes and behaviors related to smoking, increases brand awareness, links brands and sports, and associates cigarettes brands with the excitement of the sporting event, evoking positive attitudes about smoking and smoking behavior.” (Siegel, Michael. “Countering Tobacco Motor Sports Sponsorship as a Promotional Tool: Is the Tobacco Settlement Enough?” American Journal of Public Health. 2001;91: 1100-1106.)
Why Should You Get Involved?
Non-profit organizations generally have missions that involve service to the community. Businesses and other agencies like to be seen by the public as having an investment in a healthy and vibrant community. When an organization adopts a policy to refuse tobacco company money, they are showing their commitment to making the community a better place to live.
Being aware of how tobacco companies’ act is one thing. Taking action is another. You can be a part of our “No Thanks, Big Tobacco” action by making sure your organization or business has signed a policy to refuse tobacco company money. Even if your organization has never taken tobacco company money in the past and has no plans to do so, signing a policy makes good sense.
Here is a list of organizations in Cayuga County that have already signed on. Here is a list of organizations across the state that have signed on. This is a list of organizations that have taken tobacco company money.
To add yourself or an organization, Download a policy, then fax to (315) 252-3678 or mail to the address.
The CCTFP plans to publicize this initiative in the local media and on our website. Any organization that signs a policy will be included in that publicity unless otherwise noted.
Questions or comments? Please call Anne McCarthy at the Cayuga Community Health Network at 252.0097,
or email