New tobacco war

 

Monday, November 23, 1998

The biggest civil-suit settlement in American history, $206 billion against the tobacco industry, which will be awarded to the states, is only the beginning of the war against Big Tobacco.

The settlement takes responsibility from the tobacco industry for having to reimburse states' costs of treating patients who have tobacco-related illnesses.

As tobacco companies' stocks soar on the market, smokers, not investors, will be the only ones who will financially suffer as the industry tacks on 35 to 40 cents to the cost of a pack of cigarettes to cover the cost of the grandiose settlement.

There are still remaining battles to be fought out. The first lies within Big Tobacco itself.

As it has smoldered the fire with the states, the tobacco industry can still be held liable for tobacco-related injuries suffered by smokers and their families. It should brace itself for an onslaught of individual and class-action suits.

It is also reportedly facing a criminal investigation by the Justice Department on charges that it misled Congress in revealing inaccurate information on the dangers of tobacco.

As part of the settlement, the industry will have to refrain from using advertising that appeals to children by April, such as the popular Joe Camel cartoon of Camel cigarettes. Portions of the distribution will go to fund anti-smoking educational programs.