Absence of Credibility

Philip Morris International has pledged nearly $1 billion to fight smoking, but its critics don’t believe it. After all, the maker of Marlboro cigarettes spent billions fighting anti-tobacco activists for decades. Why should anyone believe them now? The company has a strong economic interest in non-smoking tobacco, also known as vaping, which is growing rapidly. It isn’t getting out of business but changing focus. Still, it bears watching as it pushes smoke-free alternatives. The company has little or no credibility when it comes to tobacco. One way or another, PMI comes off as self-interested.