"Let me be perfectly clear - there is no such thing as a safe cigarette, and we do not encourage anyone to smoke. But, we strongly believe that if you do smoke, Omni is the best alternative." -quoted from CEO of Vector Tobacco Bennett LeBow.

Omni cigarettes have recently launched in contrast to the many "the truth" and "target market" ads aimed at youth to prevent underage smoking. Omni has taken many full page ads in popular newspapers to advertise its reduction of carcinogens.

Is Vector Tobacco advertising themselves in a positive light when perhaps they are disguising or even altering the truth? Are Omni cigarettes the best choice around? Will youth pick up Omni cigarettes for their own good? –roundtable

Vector is definately using the anti-smoking campaign to sell their Omni cigarettes. Which is pretty underhanded, but as the general public are relatively stupid it will most likely work. Are Omni the best choice around? If what they say about them is true then I suppose so, but who knows what you can believe from cigarette companies. They've lied to us before. As for youth chosing Omni for their own good....I doubt it. I haven't been a youth in awhile, but way back when I was young it was usually considered uncool to do anything that was good for you. –sandee

I'm not aware of the companies being discussed, but even if there is a "healthier" cigarette, it'll still kill you in the end, so why does it even matter? –michael

I too haven't really heard much about this company or whats going on with it
but I can tell you this much
unless this "omni" cig. has some kind of mass appeal to it, the youth won't buy it
they are going to go for the ones that have the cool logos and the ones where you can get points to buy cool things
they are going to careless that they are more healthy
is a sense they won't be
they will still be doing a habit that can kill them and ruin their health
no matter what kind of cig it is –justin

As a smoker, I know what a smoker is looking for in a cigarette. As do the people marketing these new "whatever they are" I don't know Omni, nor do I know if it is tobacco or chemical, or whatever. But they know that smokers don't want people looking down on them, always telling them to quit, especially reformed smokers. So if you are going to buy one, you'll buy one where you can say "hey, but they're good for me" and if they can't prove you wrong they normally shut up. Cigarettes were never taboo before, until people started finding out each little detail proven by fact that it was bad for your health. Until whatever this OMNI is, will have to be tested for many years before anyone can prove 100% that it is just as bad as regular cigarettes... So until then, they'll market it and use the horrible effects that regular cigarettes cause, until someone proves that theirs is as bad as what they are slamming. Also, kind of like every new shampoo that claims to be bigger and better than the last, you try it, it's not, you go back to old faithful.... And for a smoker it's no different.. I know what I like in a cigarette, and what I don't, and if OMNI doesn't have it the first time I try it (which I won't, but just in general) my next pack will be of my own brand.... So sure, they'll use the negative tobacco advertising to their own advantage, but again in time, or just by not measuring up, their success in marketing this way will be short lived, if not the product itself. –alison

I agree Alison
and besides Cigs are going to be bad for you no matte what
you are puting smoke into your lungs
smoke doesn't belong there
I think this OMNI company is pullin a bunch of bullhonkie
in my own opinion, no company dealing with tabacco should be tryng to get the youth to buy them
its such a bad habit to start and one that people have a hard time giving up
I have nothin against smokers, just so you know –justin

I started smoking a few years ago. My brand was Brandeurs Season. I liked them because of the way they tasted not because they claimed they were the best or because they advertised a lot. I doubt Omni's ads will have any effect on anyone. Youths go for what they like, not what they're told to like. –omar

I don't know anything about the company in question, but in any case, I don't think that promoting itself as the healthier choice will help its sales that much. Brand loyalty would probably play a larger part in the sales of cigarettes than advertising, and as Alison and Omar have said, it's the distinctive taste of the cigarettes that attracts different smokers. –li

Well I looked these guys up a bit on the internet. It seems that they have genetically modified some tobacco to have it non-nicotine, but still tasting good (if that can be said of a cigarette) The CEO of the company also seems to think that be promoting these cigarettes it will be helping people to quit. That is a bunch of balony. I don't see any way that it will help people quit smoking just because it has no nicotine, it is a habit that is tough to break. Another quote from the site says "Tobacco researchers and antismoking crusaders worry that Omni Free might actually promote a rise in tobacco-related disease by encouraging people to start smoking because they think they can stop whenever they want." An interesting point. Hmm the CEO of the company sounds like he is a pretty smart guy. Shrewd businessman.
I do think that they are advertising themselves in a positive light when in fact whenever you are smmoking anything you are doing some sort of damage to your body. I think that they are being a bit misleading in their campaign, but what else do you expect from a tobacco company. Deceit is the earmark of their companies.
Are Omni cigarettes the best choice around? For health...well I guess if you want to make yourself sicker slower then this is the best choice. It probably isn't for taste, even though they say they havn't changed the taste, and it certainly isn't for price, check out the prices on those things, not cheap.
Will youth pick them up for their own good? Not a chance. One of the biggest deterrents is the price. Youth need cigarettes that are cheap. That is a huge part of their decision. Also a lot of youth don't have a sense of consequences. I know this is generalising somewhat, but a lot of youth simply don't think about lung cancer and those type of things when it comes to smoking. They may pay lip service to these things but when it comes down to it they will still do it if it will raise their social ladder level. –joel

It seems like we are all pretty much in agreement on all three parts of this question. –sandee

I have nothing really valuable to add here since I too am a non-smoker and it looks like all the points I would have made are all pointed out in previous posts. I totally agree with Joel in regards to the price.....it will be a major deterrant for any kids to use the product. -jeff

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