Tobacco opponents deride settlement as a slap on the wrist

By GORDON MAH UNG
TIMES STAFF WRITER

While the multi billion dollar capitulation by the tobacco industry Friday
is being described by some as a victory, smoking opponents say cigarette
companies are getting away with a slap on the wrist.
"I think you can just take a look at the tobacco stocks and ask why they
are going up" said a skeptical Julie Freestone, media and policy
coordinator for the Contra Costa Tobacco Prevention Project. "If this is a
victory for public health, why are the tobacco stocks going up?"
Under what is being hailed as a historic settlement, the industry would
pay out about $368 billion over the next 25 years for antismokeing
campaigns, to reimburse states for Medicaid costs, which includes setting
up a $5 billionayear fund to compensate sick smokers who successfully sue.
The settlement still must be ratified by Congress, which Freestone says
makes the pact even more questionable. "I think this assumes an incredible
amount of faith in people who have proven to be completely untrustworthy;
namely the tobacco industry and Congress," Freestone said. "It's sort of
like setting the fox out to guard the henhouse."
Freestone's coalition wasn't the only group critical of the deal. The
American Lung Association immediately called for close scrutiny of the
proposal. "This settlement could grant legitimacy to an industry and its
behavior we all find so reprehensible," said John Garrison, CEO of the
association. "By vindicating the industry, a deal now will tell the public
that all is forgiven and tobacco use is an appropriate and safe behavior."
Still others thought the settlement indicated dark days for the industry
and smokers. "They've brought the tobacco industry to their knees, what
industry is next?" said Otto Muelssch, president of Californians for
Smokers Rights.
"It's a backdoor prohibition and a step for the government to take
control of people's behavior. We're getting into socialism where the
government tells you what you can do and what you can't do."
Several retailers said the cost of the proposed settlement would pro~ ably
be passed onto customers but would not affect sales much.
"People will pay whatever they need to pay," said Maia Bazjanac of
Schmidt's Pub on Solano Way in Albany. The club is one of the few East Bay
"smoking" bars that sells pipes, cigars and a large selection of cigarettes.
"It concerns us; we don't like to have to raise our prices," Bazjanac said.
"But I don't think it's going to affect (sales)."