Source: San Jose Mercury News (CA) Contact: http://www.sjmercury.com/ Pubdate: Tue, 23 Jun 1998 Author: Kathy Lewis - Dallas Morning News CLINTON OKS SURVEY OF TEEN SMOKERS' BRAND PREFERENCES WASHINGTON -- President Clinton, his efforts to get comprehensive anti-smoking legislation stymied, Monday ordered an annual survey of teenagers to find out what brands of cigarettes they smoke. ``Parents, quite simply, have a right to know,'' said Clinton. He said the federal survey not only would reveal which brands teenagers buy, but also which companies are most responsible for the teen smoking problem. Clinton said public health officials would use the information to try to reduce teen smoking. The R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. released a statement suggesting the survey would serve no purpose. Company officials said the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention had provided such information in surveys in 1989 and 1993, and said most studies conclude that the primary factors in youth smoking are peer pressure, family influence and access. ``R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. does not want youth to smoke, period. Having taxpayers fund additional studies on which brands youth smoke perpetuates the `blame game' and focuses on the wrong issue,'' said John Singleton, director of corporate communication. Clinton countered that the tobacco officials' ``automatic and angry dismissal'' of the survey showed their ``continued disregard for their children's health and parents' concern.'' Once survey information is available, Clinton said neither companies nor Congress could avoid accountability. He said an annual survey that showed a substantial difference in brand preference clearly would demonstrate that ``there is something in the nature of the advertising that'' generates the popularity. ``If advertising can be isolated and we can see that in brand preference, I think it will help us quite a lot to forge some good policies,'' he said. Under an executive order issued by Clinton, the Department of Health and Human Services will expand its National Household Survey on Drug Abuse to include tobacco use by youth and brand preference. The current survey, started in the early 1970s, covers illicit drug, alcohol and tobacco use among the general population. White House officials said the executive order is but one of several announcements Clinton will make in coming weeks on the issue. Last week, Senate Republicans blocked an anti-smoking bill that would have raised cigarette prices, placed major new restrictions on advertising and marketing, and levied penalties on cigarette companies if targeted reductions in teen smoking were not met. The bill, which stalled after failing to win the necessary 60 votes to end debate, would have called for research into the youth smoking market. Clinton said he would continue pushing for passage. On Capitol Hill, Republicans continued work Monday on a much smaller, more narrowly focused bill aimed at reducing teen smoking and drug use. - --- Checked-by: (Joel W. Johnson)