Consumerism vs. Ethical Issue (part2): The Tobacco Industry's Dilemma

One of the most frequently criticised industries in terms of ethicality is the tobacco industry, whereby its legitimacy depends on consumers’ addiction to a potentially harmful substance. Despite worldwide knowledge about the harmful health effects of smoking, the compulsive consumption behaviour overrides logic, motivation and the smoker’s social influencers to cease smoking. This leads smokers to counter cognitive dissonance by playing down the health risks, or finding a superficial benefit for smoking, such as an aid to losing weight (Festinger, 1957). Therefore, the external threats for tobacco companies that lead them to engage in consumerism and corporate social responsibility are not its users, but public policy makers and non-smokers. Non-smokers perceive the risks of smoking to be much higher than smokers, and are more likely take an Activist response in illegitimating tobacco companies than smokers in defending the industry. Children are also impressionable and prone to exploitation, therefore tobacco companies risk strong community backlash should any advertising appear to be targeting minors.

Beyond this, the true ethical values and acts of consumerism behind tobacco industries remain questionable. Tobacco companies hold their stance that they are offering consenting adults what they want (British American Tobacco, 2008), however, this is an inherent contradiction and is accused as a marketing ploy to exploit human vulnerabilities, particularly when the continued consumption of their products only lead to greater compulsive consumption behaviour which clearly has little to do with informed choices and a great deal to do with increased profits.

(daisy, taken from My Buyer Behaviour Report, 2008. Acknowledgement: Joanie)