Unethical Marketing In Tobacco Companies

There is a big controversy about how unethical it is that tobacco companies continue to market to young consumers. Some say that the tobacco companies are responsible for making attractive advertising that shows using tobacco products is cool when in reality it can cause harm or even death. The Bible teaches, “Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers,” Psalms 1:1 New International Version. Decisions, influences, and target marketing are some of the ways that companies use unethical marketing practices. Understanding the behavior of young consumers helps create a marketing mix for purchasing decisions. Unethical marketing from tobacco companies drives

They understand that the people around them are doing it and chose to influence them in the same manner. The tobacco industry understands that “culture is learned from parents and peers”, they count on that to be a driving force in young adults buying their products, Hair, J. F., Lamb, C. W., & McDaniel, C. (2016, p. 101). These strategies no matter how unethical are continuously used to influence youth. From the Tobacco Company Quotes on Marketing to Kids, "It is important to know as much as possible about teenage smoking patterns and attitudes. Today's teenager is tomorrow's potential regular customer and the overwhelming majority of smokers first begin to smoke while in their teens”, (2018). Target marketing or “demographic segmentation” is also used by the tobacco industry to target the young adults, Hair, J. F., Lamb, C. W., & McDaniel, C. (2016, p. 135). “Age segmentation can be an important tool, as a brief exploration of the market potential of several age segments illustrates’ Hair, J. F., Lamb, C. W., & McDaniel, C. (2016, p. 135). Also stated by the Tobacco Company Quotes on Marketing to Kids “The ability to attract new smokers and develop them into a young adult franchise is key to brand development”,