Smart or dangerous PR?

I recently read the World Health Organization practical manual of the 'Tobacco Industry Documents', it has a lot of interesting content on what the tobacco industry was hiding from the rest of the world, how they found them, what they found, wondeful links on books and marketing strategies of the industry. The fact is Public Relations in the tobacco industry is fascinating to learn about, because we all know cigarettes are deadly but the tactics they used are a field of their own. Malboro Man, Gender and PR, Culture and PR, the so called 'light' 'mild' and 'thin' cigarettes, the 'Think Don't Smoke' campaign which has pushed the idea that smoking is a choice instead of smoking is dangerous of course, or the even more interesting anti- smoking campaign from Philip Morris that was proven to be another public relations strategy. How do these people work, how do they think? some of the most disturbing quotes were found from cigarette makers such as:
"To ensure increased and longer-term growth for
CAMEL FILTER, the brand must increase its share
penetration among the 14–24 age group."
R.J. Reynolds marketing analyst, 1975 or
"The base of our business is the high school
student."
Lorillard memo on sale of Newport cigarettes, 1978

The companies deny ever advertising to children, but the truth is public relations in the tobacco industry is full of controversy if we simply go back to the idea that smoking is in fact really bad. How do they procede for example? Im gonna quote from the manual :
"The marketing experts in the tobacco
companies knew the essential arithmetic: current smokers
quit or die; therefore new smokers are always needed. Since
the majority of adult smokers begin in their teenage years,
this is the group that had to be targeted by advertising and
promotions. The tobacco companies have created “children
shouldn’t smoke until they are adults” campaigns around the
world, without ever mentioning the health reasons for not
smoking." This strategy smart or dangerous? is in fact both. The idea that smoking is only for adults gives the impression that smoking is good when you're all grown up, or pushes the feeling of adolescent rebellion and their eagerness to be accepted into the 'adult' world..the hidden image that the tobacco industry is therefore portraying is the idea of idealism, change and rebellion among others..it's amazing how PR works

Reference The WHO Tobacco Industry Documents practical manual