But the tobacco companies aren’t going to like it. They have been ordered to publicly admit to lying about their products and advertise corrective statements. In addition to television ads, they must place statements in newspapers, and on their websites and packaging.
Judge Gladys Kessler of the Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit issued the order, according to Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids.
CTFK stated, “A federal judge today ordered tobacco companies to admit that they have deliberately deceived the American public and finally tell the truth about their deadly and addictive products and fraudulent marketing. Today’s ruling is a critical step toward ending decades of tobacco industry deception that has resulted in millions of premature deaths, untold suffering and billions in health care costs. Requiring the tobacco companies to finally tell the truth is a small price to pay for the devastating consequences of their wrongdoing.”
The public admissions of deception are designed to prevent the companies from issuing PSAs on the dangers of tobacco and appear “trustworthy” which would be a further deception.
According to CTFK, “…today’s order requires tobacco companies to make corrective statements about the adverse health effects of smoking and secondhand smoke; the addictiveness of nicotine; the lack of health benefits from smoking ‘light’ and ‘low-tar’ cigarettes; and the companies’ manipulation of cigarette design and composition to ensure optimum nicotine delivery. The corrective statements will be made through newspaper and television advertising, on the companies’ web sites and on cigarette packaging.”
