Germany

Germany is the second most populous country in Europe after Russia and is Europe's strongest economic power. After World War II, Germany was divided into West Germany (initially under the allied powers of the U.S., France, and Britain) and East Germany (under the Soviet Union). In 1990, Germany was officially united into one country again.

Tobacco industry information - Germany

 * Cigarette Market Structure and Brand Leverage Study Management Presentation(Youth marketing, Philip Morris International, 1985)

In West Germany, policymakers were well aware as early as the mid 1970s of the fact that secondhand smoke endangers non-smokers. The tobacco manufacturers in Germany, however, represented by the national manufacturing organization "Verband" (Verband der Cigaretten Industry), were successful in containing and neutralizing the early debate about the health dangers of secondhand smoke. This success was achieved by carefully planned collaboration with selected scientists, health professionals and policymakers, along with a sophisticated public relations program. The strategies of the tobacco industry have been largely successful in inhibiting the regulation of secondhand smoke in Germany.

A Philip Morris matrix/chart lists "to-do" type tasks for the company to address secondhand smoke issues in Europe. Tasks listed include "Restore Smoker Confidence," "Reverse Health Perception," "Establish/Maintain/Exploit Smoker Clubs," "Resist Smoking Restriction" and others. Check boxes are provided for the countries of Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Holland, Italy, United Kingdom, Switzerland, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait GCC [Gulf Council Countries], Turkey, Finland, Sweden, Norway, and Denmark.

Related SourceWatch articles

 * Nazi Germany
 * The nuclear power industry in Germany

External resources

 * Country profile: Germany BBC, accessed November 2007.