Tobacco marketing increases
11:57 PM 6/16/03
Patricia Simms Health reporter

A nationwide advertising blitz boosted the amount of money spent by tobacco companies on marketing in the United States by 17 percent from 2000 to 2001, according to the Federal Trade Commission.

Of a total $11.22 billion in marketing in 2001- the most ever reported to the FTC - anti-smoking advocates estimate Wisconsin's share is a record $211 million, said Maureen Busalacchi of Smoke Free Wisconsin.

The figure is an estimate, she said, because the FTC provides only national figures. Smoke Free Wisconsin uses population percentages to project a state figure, she said.

"But we know by kids' buying habits that marketing is successful," she said.

Smoke Free Wisconsin, a nonpartisan, nonprofit coalition, also charged tobacco companies are still marketing to children in Wisconsin despite an agreement not to.

But Busalacchi acknowledged in an interview Monday there is no hard evidence of that in Wisconsin. "Not right now, but we do expect proof of that," she said.

The FTC reported that cigarette sales decreased by 15.6 billion cigarettes (3.8 percent) from 2000 to 2001 even though advertising expenses rose.

"Smoking kills 7,800 people in Wisconsin every year, so tobacco companies have to work hard to replace their best customers," Busalacchi said.

For the first time, manufacturers reported the total number of cigarettes they gave away in the United States - 3.9 billion in 2001.

Spending in Wisconsin on tobacco prevention and cessation programs will be $15 million this fiscal year, but the budget being considered by the Legislature cuts $5 million in funding, Busalacchi said. If adopted, the $10 million to reduce tobacco use would be less than 5 percent of what the tobacco industry spent in marketing here.

The FTC report found the greatest increases in advertising and promotional spending were in the areas of "promotional allowances," which include payments to retailers for displaying and merchandising cigarette brands in stores, and "retail value added," which includes price promotions (such as "buy one, get one free" offers).