Tobacco Industry Targeting of Blue-Collar Workers

Abstract

Blue-collar workers, an important segment of the American workforce, smoke at a significantly higher rate than white-collar workers. While much has been written about tobacco industry targeting of other groups, little has been written about the industry's deliberate plan to addict blue-collar workers. For decades, the tobacco industry has targeted blue-collar workers. This article chronicles the industry's concerted drive and reveals some of its strategies to recruit, maintain, and expand its consumer base. It describes one labor organization's efforts to counter the industry's influence on blue-collar workers. This research justifies the continuation of aggressive anti-tobacco efforts by health workers and labor unions involved in tobacco education programs targeting blue-collar workers.