Healthy Skepticism Library item: 18463

Warning: This library includes all items relevant to health product marketing that we are aware of regardless of quality. Often we do not agree with all or part of the contents.

Publication type: Journal Article

Sweet M
Drinks industry has learnt from tobacco companies, study says
BMJ 2010 July 12; 341:
http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/extract/341/jul12_1/c3708

Abstract:

Alcohol and tobacco companies have worked closely to share information and strategies in their fight against public health initiatives, a new Australian study says.

The researchers analysed 29 alcohol related documents retrieved from the millions of confidential tobacco industry papers that have been published online as a result of the Master Settlement Agreement in the United States in 1998, an agreement between four tobacco firms and the attorneys general of 46 US states.

The study, published in the Australasian Medical Journal this week (doi:10.4066/AMJ.2010.363), found that the two industries used similar marketing strategies, including product placement and targeting young people and specific ethnic groups.

“They develop and provide potentially counterproductive public education campaigns so as to appear socially responsible and in an effort to deflect tighter controls on products,” the researchers said.

“Further, it can be drawn from these documents that the alcohol industry is concerned about public . . .