US cigarette makers sue over graphic warning labels

[Eugene]

Source: BBC

17 August 2011 Last updated at 01:31 GMT

US cigarette makers sue over graphic warning labels

Five tobacco companies have sued the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) over a new law that would force them to place graphic health warnings on their cigarette packets.

The firms argue the plan violates their constitutional right to free speech, as it requires firms to promote the government's anti-smoking message.

The FDA has not commented on the lawsuit.

-snip-

RJ Reynolds Tobacco, Lorillard Tobacco, Commonwealth Brands, Liggett Group and Santa Fe Natural Tobacco said they filed their suit against the FDA late on Tuesday in an effort to delay enforcement of the new law.

-snip-


Read more: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-14553228

[bemildred]

1. One wonders what the USSC will make of this.

Some of them are very big on "free speech", as long as it's not political and critical.

[joshcryer]

2. Doubt they'll hear it. FDA has full power to do this.

[bemildred]

3. THe current USSC has overstepped its bounds numerous times now.

Just saying ...

I do agree that FDA does have the power, and ought to.

[joshcryer]

6. Yeah, but cigarettes have precedent for not having "free speech rights."

Nicotine has a calming effect to those addicted, but there's no fucking way in hell that it can be advertised positively like that.

Shame alcohol is the super duper lovable drug and cannot have stickers of drunk driving deaths on the bottles.

[HuckleB]

9. You're mixing things here.

Nicotine kills, period. Alcohol kills when an individual under its influence acts.

Big difference.

[OnyxCollie]

18. The difference is the regulation of a substance

and the regulation of behavior.

I've stopped talking to a coworker since this happened because he couldn't figure that out.

He's a Ron Paul libertardian who wants to control people's behavior which he doesn't approve of.

"Why doesn't McDonald's have labels like that? I see all these fat people..."

[SOS]

20. Nicotine and ethanol

Both are deadly poisons, depending on the quantity ingested.

John Bonham, drummer for Led Zeppelin, died in his sleep after drinking 40 shots of vodka.
No other drugs were found in his system.

[Lance_Boyle]

21. Nicotine is an almost entirely benign drug, it's the tar and other shit that kills.

Nicotine overdose is next to impossible from smoking tobacco for healthy individuals, and mostly happens with the liquid pure extract.

Nicotine itself has particular legitimate health uses, including calming the smooth muscle of the gut.

[cstanleytech]

4. Do crack dealers have a constitutional right to deal crack?

If not then the fda should consider just banning the growing, selling and distributing of tobacco.

[truthisfreedom]

5. Not without graphic warning stickers!

Or something!

[Cronus Protagonist]

7. Cigarettes are little people, the very progeny of a Corporation Person.

They have rights too.

[Hydrated]

8. Fags should be outlawed

My dad and mum both died because they smoked them.

[harmonicon]

10. Know anyone who every died because they drove or rode in a car?

I do. I suppose they should be outlawed too? Maybe medical operations should be outlawed. I know people who have died because they had surgery.

[Hydrated]

11. Utterly daft

There is nothing inherently unhealthy about riding in a motor vehicle, and surgery helps far more often than it harms. Smoking cigarettes, on the other hand, is deliberate self-poisoning.

[LanternWaste]

15. I imagine that when a cigarette is able to transport a person...

I imagine when a cigarette is able to transport a person or family to work and school, or distribute goods nationwide, then we may be able to revisit the collective and personal cost/benefit ration that motor vehicles and medical treatments currently enjoy.

Until then, it seems my cigarettes do very little... :shrug:

[Moosepoop]

12. I wonder why Altria (Philip Morris) hasn't joined in on this?

I would think they'd be at the forefront of these suits, yet they haven't joined in at all.

[onehandle]

13. Tough shit. Poison should be labeled as such. nt

[truebrit71]

14. Yup.

nt

[7wo7rees]

16. Here should be the warning:

Cigarettes are the only item that, when properly used, kill the consumer.

[SoapyJohnson]

17. Cigarette Warning Labels for All!

If cigarettes need graphic warning labels, so does everything ... http://placeitonluckydan.com/2011/08/cigarette-warning-labels-for-all/

[harmonicon]

22. that's one of the greatest things I've ever read.

Thanks for the link.

[SoapyJohnson]

24. Much appreciation

Keep an eye on the site and please share the stuff you like, that would be a great help. Also a Facebook page . Nothing to buy, no forms to fill out. Usually a few one-liners a day. Thanks again!

[SOS]

19. The manufacturers of metal cigarette cases must be disappointed

Their sales were set to skyrocket next year.

[ATLdemocrat]

23. It's not going to change anything at all

The government could force cigarette manufacturers to name their brands things like "Cancer" and "Lung Disease" and it still wouldn't change anything. What we need is a complete ban on tobacco, with government-funded cessation products provided to every smoker in America. Won't happen, but neither will a change in America's smoking population, even with these labels.