Business Ethics - A study on the tobacco industries in the United States and France

Résumé du document

US President Barack Obama promised to reduce tobacco consumption of the youth. He explained that he too was in their situation, and wanted to reduce influence of tobacco companies on young people. In consequence, on April 2, 2009, the United States Congress has voted a law to put tobacco products under control of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The FDA has imposed some advertising restrictions such as printing graphic warning on the top half of cigarette packages, banishing event sponsorship, substance control, and restriction of advertising media. This law has created a big hue and cry in the United States. While Obama has supported the last step, Massachusetts has denounced it in 2001. Consequently, this last one has created a polemic based on the values of the country. Thus, this situation is a little bit paradoxical coming from a liberal country. The United States has been a defendant of freedom of expression in the entire world and wants to employ force to prohibit marketing and communication. In consequence, the ethical challenge of this law is: should the state interfere in the business or does he should let people to choose? Hence it seems to be paradoxical with liberal values of the state. Marketing restrictions in tobacco industry touch liberal values of the nation and create a large polemic in politic, and can lead to losses in a profitable industry. This contradiction poses a new ethical challenge: should the state decide for the people?

Extraits

[...] In consequence, when State interferes in business to ban advertising for tobacco products, people do not understand and denounced unconstitutional measures. In conclusion, we can say that the difference between American tobacco policy and French tobacco policy is the fact that American people are not used to see State to interfere in business. In consequence, the problem is not restrictions against tobacco products but interferences of State in business. In France, people are used to be attended contrary to American. Thus, despite some rebellions in the beginning, French have accepted these restrictions to protect them against tobacco risk. [...]

[...] United State has tried to put in place advertising restriction in tobacco industry as in France. However, despite the fact that people understand that tobacco is dangerous, they find these restrictions inadequate with their values. Thus, these restrictions are interferences of State in business. However, interference of State in business is inadequate with liberalism. In consequence, people understand the necessity to react against tobacco risk but do not understand the interference of state in business that is contrary to their values. [...]

[...] United State is one of the most liberal countries in the world that not interfere in business. However, in this situation, State does not respect this fundamental value. - Duty of State to protect young people against tobacco industry. As every state, United States must protect its citizens against every risk. Thus, State must protect people against tobacco risks. As we can see, there is an opposition between the liberalism value and the duty of protection. Interference of United States in business Vs. [...]

[...] Ethical context, Political dimensions, financial aspects, ethical challenges This law has created a big polemic in United State. Thus, while Obama has supported this last one, Massachusetts has denounced in 2001. In consequence, this last one has created a polemic based on the values of the country. Thus, this situation is a little bit paradoxical from this liberal country: United States is a defendant of freedom of expression in the entire world and wants to force to prohibit marketing and communication. Tobacco industry is one of the most important industries in United State. [...]

[...] In three years, advertisings have disappeared of traditional media. In the same time, tobacco companies have stopped sponsor of events. In the beginning, this restriction creates difficulties for many football teams to find sponsors. However, it was quickly accepted. Moreover, it was the same problem for television because it sold its advertising schedule to Tobacco Companies. This second restriction was also accepted. Thirdly, tobacco companies had print more precaution information on their packaging. Thus, they printed risks of tobacco, and removed fake information as or “poor in tar”. [...]