"Accommodating" smoke-free policies: tobacco industry’s Courtesy of Choice programme in Latin America

"Accommodating" smoke-free policies: tobacco industry’s Courtesy of Choice programme in Latin America, Published paper by Ernesto M Sebrié and Stanton Arnold Glantz

This paper explains the implementation and effects of the tobacco industry's "Courtesy of Choice" program, designed to "accommodate" smokers as an alternative to smoke-free polices. The program was developed by Philip Morris International (PMI) and was supported by R.J. Reynolds (RJR) and British American Tobacco (BAT) since the mid-1990s in Latin America. The authors analyzed internal tobacco industry documents, BAT "social reports", news reports and tobacco control legislation.

The researchers found that since the mid-1990s, PMI, BAT and RJR promoted Accommodation Programs to maintain the social acceptability of smoking. As in other parts of the world, multinational tobacco companies partnered with third party allies from the hospitality industry in Latin America. The campaign was extended from the hospitality industry (bars, restaurants and hotels) to other venues such as workplaces and airport lounges. A local public relations agency, as well as a network of engineers and other experts in ventilation systems, was hired to promote the tobacco industry’s programme. The most important outcome of these campaigns in several countries was the prevention of meaningful smoke-free policies, both in public places and in workplaces.

The authors conclude that the "Courtesy of Choice" program remains an effective public relations campaign to undermine smoke-free policies in Latin America. The tobacco companies’ accommodation campaign undermines the implementation of measures to protect people from second-hand smoke called for by the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, perpetuating the exposure to tobacco smoke in indoor enclosed environments.

Related SourceWatch resources

 * Clean indoor air/ventilation
 * Philip Morris' Ventilation Task Force
 * Tobacco industry manipulation of the hospitality industry to maintain smoking in public places
 * Tobacco industry front groups
 * Secondhand smoke
 * Social Costs/Social Values Project