Larry Downs, Project Director, New Jersey BREATHES Will be Available for
Comment One Hour After Release of Settlement Details
LAWRENCEVILLE, N.J., Nov. 11 /PRNewswire/ -- According to recent news
reports, eight states have reportedly settled their lawsuits with the tobacco
industry. Under the deal, the nation's major tobacco companies would be
required to pay approximately $200 billion over the next 25 years. The
specific details of the eight state settlement terms are expected to be
released by noon this Friday. Thirty-eight other states, including New
Jersey, will then have seven days to "opt-in" or "opt-out" of the settlement.
Larry Downs, Project Director, New Jersey BREATHES, New Jersey's leading
tobacco-control organization, will be available for comment one hour after the
details of the settlement are released on Friday, November 13, 1998.
New Jersey BREATHES is the leading tobacco-control organization in New
Jersey and was the group responsible for New Jersey's $0.40 increase in the
tobacco tax last year. New Jersey BREATHES now serves as a national "model"
coalition for the National Smokeless States initiative. Members of the
tobacco control coalition include the American Cancer Society, American Heart
Association, American Lung Association, Medical Society of New Jersey, New
Jersey Hospital Association and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
New Jersey currently has a lawsuit pending against the tobacco industry.
Without a national settlement agreement, New Jersey and other individual
states will have the option to settle with the tobacco industry or go to
trial. To date, Florida, Minnesota, Mississippi and Texas have reached
individual settlement agreements worth a total of $36 billion. Washington
State is currently on trial against major cigarette makers.
New Jersey BREATHES' minimum settlement terms between the tobacco industry
and the State of New Jersey are as follows:
Front load 10-15% of the settlement to fund a comprehensive tobacco
control program including counter-advertising activities, cessation for
smokers and comprehensive research.
-- The tobacco industry must contribute to a state run advertising fund
that tells the truth about the dangers of tobacco.
-- Further research into nicotine addiction is sorely needed so more
effective treatment methods can be developed.
-- In addition to tobacco prevention services, current smokers should
have the opportunity to avail themselves of affordable smoking
cessation and/or nicotine dependent treatment programs.
Eliminate aggressive advertising and promotion of tobacco products.
-- End point-of-sale advertising.
-- Ban the distribution of merchandise with tobacco names or logos.
-- End direct tobacco and tobacco-look-alike advertising on buses, taxis,
bus stops, billboards; and signage on the front of retail
establishments, doors, shopping baskets.
-- Eliminate special payments to merchants for product placement and
other sales inducements.
-- Eliminate tobacco sponsorship of sporting events and cultural events.
Decrease youth access to tobacco.
-- The sale of tobacco products must be a fully supervised transaction.
-- All tobacco products must be placed behind the counter.
-- Cigarette vending machines must be eliminated.
Regulate tobacco products.
-- The tobacco industry must agree to full product ingredient disclosure.
Create tobacco-free environments and support tobacco control policies.
-- A provision that prevents the tobacco industry from contesting state
or local tobacco-control policies must be a part of the settlement
agreement. These "non-contest" rules will enable state and
municipalities to pass common-sense ordinances without worrying about
taking on the tobacco giants.
-- Smoking in public places must be banned and clean air laws must be
strengthened.
SOURCE New Jersey BREATHES
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Related links:
http://www.mwwpr.com
CONTACT:
Larry Downs of New Jersey BREATHES; or Matt
Stanton, or Tom Woodard, 201-507-9500, for New Jersey BREATHES
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