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Ads for Reduced-Risk Tobacco: Public Scourge or Protected Speech?

POLICY FORUM
Tuesday, July 16, 2002
11:30 a.m.

Featuring Matthew Myers, President, Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids; and Carlos T. Angulo, Associate, Zuckerman Spaeder LLP; versus John E. Calfee, Resident Scholar, American Enterprise Institute; and Erik S. Jaffe, Chair, Federalist Society Subcommittee on Advertising Law and Regulation.

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When it comes to tobacco products, lower risk doesn't mean risk free. That's why some health advocates want to ban health claims in ads for smokeless and other reduced-risk products. Those claims, so the argument goes, will create a false sense of security. The real choice for smokers is "quit or die." Nonsense, say the companies who promote "harm reduction." Smokers who will not or cannot quit are better off if they switch to smokeless tobacco or reduced-risk cigarettes. Advertisements with health claims are an important source of information for smokers. While that policy debate rages, constitutional scholars question whether the First Amendment protects commercial speech relating to "healthier" tobacco. Please join us for a vigorous debate on both the policy and constitutional issues.

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