Media Release

FOR: Release at 2:00 p.m.
DATE: November 19, 1998
CONTACT: Robert J. Marshall Jr., Ph.D. Assistant Director of Health (Community Affairs) 401-222-223

Public Health Agencies Support Tobacco Settlement Decision; Emphasis on Enforcement and Preventing Youth Smoking

Representatives of key public health agencies today indicated support for Attorney General Jeffrey Pine’s decision to approve the proposed tobacco industry settlement. They credited the Attorney General with keeping public health in the forefront of the negotiations. The public health group included representatives of the American Cancer Society, American Lung Association of Rhode Island, American Heart Association and the Rhode Island Department of Health.

The health agencies agree with the Attorney General’s view that the settlement represents a milestone in the effort to hold big tobacco accountable. The issue really comes down to whether Rhode Island benefits more from pursuing a separate lawsuit or from taking advantage of the multi-state agreement. Health advocates didn’t get everything they wanted, such as an acknowledgement of FDA authority over tobacco, or "look back" provisions with penalties for increases in youth smoking, but there are clear advantages to this settlement. Attorney General Pine’s leadership helped to achieve some major public health goals for Rhode Island.

The proposed settlement follows weeks of negotiations between the tobacco industry and Attorneys General from 37 states—many of whom are expected to sign the agreement. Four other states recently reached separate settlements. The lawsuits occurred primarily to recover the costs to states of treating tobacco-related disease. The states also sued the industry alleging, among other things, violations of antitrust and consumer protection laws and conspiracy to manipulate nicotine levels, withhold less harmful products and mislead the public about the adverse health effects of tobacco use. The agreement restricts marketing tobacco to youth. It prohibits ads with cartoon characters, all billboard advertising, and limits sponsorship of cultural and sports events and a variety of other practices. It also provides up to $1.4 billion to Rhode Island over the next 25 years.

According to the agencies, signing this agreement is only the first step. Now the attention needs to refocus on strict enforcement—making sure the tobacco industry lives up to its commitments. The agreement also provides significant new resources to eliminate smoking among children and youth, to help current smokers quit, and to assure treatment of those with tobacco-related illnesses. Agency representatives commented that if this opportunity is handled wisely, there could be a time when old age, not tobacco use, becomes the leading cause of death in Rhode Island.

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