Anti-Smoking Advocate on Tobacco Reform

" They -- Food and Drug Administration now has power to regulate tobacco products after President Obama signed landmark legislation yesterday. One antismoking advocate says the passage of the bill marks the diminished clout of the tobacco lobby on the hill joining us right now is the man who set it. Patrick Reynolds his executive director of anti smoking dot org and happens to -- grandson. A tobacco company founder RJ Reynolds Patrick good to see this morning thanks for being here."

" to -- on board it's a great day for public health for the health of our kids. Finally we have regulation FDA regulation. Of dangerous product to back."

" So let's talk a little bit about what this film has going you aren't big advocate you feel in some respects at a falls a little bit short. What do you like about what this legislation will --"

" Where it winds. 99% friend tester 1% maybe fall short. Or even those too much. But where it winds we've got 50% graphic warning labels on the front and the back of cigarette packages. You know these are going to be a powerful determined two kids thinking about whether they're going to smoker not. And the strong incentive for smokers to quit looking at pictures of diseased -- on the front and back of the cigarette tax we're gonna ban candy flavorings slicker. No Vanilla and so when that appeal to kids coffee flavorings. Bill is going to. -- that advertising that point his show to black and white tombstone advertisement. There's so much in the bill that this is sort of allowed to reduce nicotine levels but not eliminate them. Philip Morris to -- part of bill but the point here is that on the whole this is of great. Great piece of legislation which we have fought for and congress was sidelined for eleven years the -- powerful lobbyists on the hill. A generous campaign contributions to buy the tobacco industry. Well connected -- you know law makers lose seniority of lawmakers right -- homes. All of those things for eleven years got this built sidelined and killed in committee and finally now that we have. The democratic congress shouldn't you know Obama and power. This bill has passed."

" You know a lot of people there are wondering Patrick how we use the grandson. Of the founder of of RJ Reynolds and why it is that you -- in such great supported this why you've been such an advocate for the past decade tell people why."

" But it's it's personal story. My only members of my father. Archer Runnels junior son of founder of command who was gasping for breath he was my dad was dying from smoking. When I spoke -- in congress in 1980 search for the first time publicly and I was catapulted into the headlines. Tobacco family member who says smoking's not good wherever industries are too good well. I I really. It was catapulted. Into the headlines and I realized I could make a difference on this issue campaigning for cigarette tax increases. And as it worked on this political campaigns and eighties and nineties. Realists know how angry I was about the tobacco industry and what they've been doing all those years lying to the public. And -- did targeting kids in -- advertising as it later came out. And I knew that I could make a difference on this issue now planning to go to China and India and Russia and I just came back from Greece were submitted by the Health Minister. Anger covered by all the major -- newspapers and news media the TV networks were profile and I wanted to do that in China. In India and -- soon. I'm just thrilled about the opportunity to make a difference."

" Yet know why I'm I'm I'm I'm thrilled that you've had such success after all these years. But it you and I both know they're still loopholes and and and some of that is things like the among many what concerns you specifically about these cigarette."

" Well I I have until like -- cigarette. You know I've I don't know that it's completely safe and that's why the FDA is going to err on the side of caution. Possibly remove these these cigarettes from the market it's a little electronic cigarette that in this smoke it looks a structure of smoke. Some extra pro -- glycol and water through an -- but I think that when I quit smoking and -- More those eleven times. Having a cigarette substitute. Watching the smoke that was half the pleasure of smoking being able to watch the smoker you're a smoker there. Try keeping your eyes -- and smoking without seeing the smoke and you'll find. That it really is not very enjoyable so the visual. Watching the smoke through these cigarette I think is a powerful aid in quitting smoking. And the FDA may be taken them off the market. Until they're proven safe and that may take many years in Europe I believe there are still going to continue to seldom -- school of in the tobacco control movement called harm reduction in school and these people are saying well if it's less harmful than smoking and certainly. The purple and black -- water may be less harmful than all the ingredients in tobacco smoke then maybe we should leave it on the market is live for people who quit smoking but. It right now the -- will prohibit you from. Claiming that the use or quit smoking aid and I think that clearly are you know I I like these cigarette but. This it was good in the bill that it's it's."

" You know what what do you believe is the next step toward a free smoking -- side because any any travel overseas and if you -- a lot of places overseas in Europe. This a lot of smoking is still going on."

" Well as I did increase in April I'd like to meet with the Health Minister publicly. And discuss what really works to what's been proven to work to take to reduce smoking rates and we know. That if you have a strong smoking laws prohibiting smoking in bars and restaurants for young people congregate. And if you have a -- cigarette taxes you do in New York City and you spent little money on tobacco prevention education. Got the CDC is. -- of tobacco spots. Over to Greece for them and I believe it of them -- and it got them on the air now. So when you educate the public through the media and you have a strong smoking ban and you have a higher cigarette tax -- in New York. They've reduced the youth smoking rate down to eight and a half percent so why is three things taken together work and that sort of -- us discuss publicly with health administration trying to. And Russia and India without embarrassing -- of course that effect at the State Department helping me. We'll work. And gender in advance for public description well private and certainly going to be famous for its true."

" Well Patrick Reynolds that executive director of anti smoking dot -- continue to fight the fight and congratulations on this small victory. --"