The Relationship Between Religious Institutions And Society

In 2013, Pope Francis delivered an apostolic exhortation on family life, â€Å"Amoris Laetitia,† better known as â€Å"The Joy of Love.† Establishing a sense of resolution within the Catholic Church about homosexuality has also reopened the original debate on the propriety of a coexisting homosexual Christian. This has been a concern in not only the Catholic Church, but sub-religions within the entire Christian community. It is interesting to comprehend the relationship between religious organizations and society—mainly how one influences the other in doctrines, values, and beliefs, specifically in regards to homosexuality. Regarding the relationship between Christian religious institutions, society, and homosexuality, the articles should†¦show more content†¦Hilliard discussed when, in London in the 1880s, a subculture of homosexuality began to take its own collective form and that this subculture felt â€Å"freed from the respectability and the puri tanism of the churches.† This is due to the fact that Anglo-Catholicism had looser sets of religious practices, and because of this it actually increased the amount of ‘social rebels’ within the churches. These two pieces of ‘evidence,’ however, are not entirely concrete because it is anecdotal; however, they strongly imply that the Catholic churches are outwardly against homosexuality but have a scandalous reputation of being homosexually inclusive. They also strongly imply that the authoritarian nature behind a religious institution may also have an influence on society’s attendance of churches and what they feel comfortable practicing. While the other articles have given a brief background of homosexuality within the church, Altemeyer used actual studies that can help explain the actual prejudice within the Catholic Church against homosexuals. His goal was to find how one’s religious ethnocentrism affected how they viewed homosexuali ty. He used a religious ethnocentrism scale, which demonstrates the tendency for anyone to put their own group in a â€Å"position of centrality and worthwhile creating and reinforcing negative attitudes and behaviors toward outgroups.† Within this 16 question scale, 2145 psychology students and their parents answeredShow MoreRelatedThe Plight Of Modernity And The Social Conditions Associated With Modern Forms Of Capitalism1421 Words   |  6 PagesFor these theorists, religious institutions serve important roles in understandings of how societal changes emerge. However, their understandings of how religion relates to social change are vastly different. This is the result of fundamentally different assumptions underlying their particular theories. Within Marx’ understanding of religion, ideologies of religious institutions, along with all other social institutions, are based on the economic relations found in society. Under the current economicRead MoreFamily and Religion : Influence on People Essay1602 Words   |  7 Pagesto describe their families, some would describe single-household families, some would describe stepfamilies, some would describe gay or lesbian or adoptive families and many would describe divorced families. The word family has become a diverse institution it is very difficult to give it a meaning. In a wide sense especially in the biological sciences the term family refers to a group of individual beings linked by blood relations, having a whole line of ancestors and descendants. Aristotle definesRead MoreSociological Perspectives Of Structural Functionalism1490 Words   |  6 Pagesand the effects on societies. In looking at how religion functions in social structures, social systems, and small g roup interpersonal interactions sociologists could formulate a better understanding of religion s role in society and the human experience. The sociologist looks at the individual agency, and how that connects to a specific societal location or setting. Specifically, in the case of religion a sociologist could study the power religion holds over people and societies, and the influenceRead MoreReligion As A Cultural System1601 Words   |  7 Pagesfaith participate in, and that identify them as members of a religious community, an example of this would be Ramadan, this is a period of roughly thirty days fasting which Muslims partake in yearly which is then ended by a huge celebration named Eid al-Fitr. Sociologists are not concerned with the validity of religious beliefs, rather they tend to focus on the social effect that religion has on people individually, and the institution itself. Since the beginning of human existence religion has beenRead MoreMarriage, Family, And Religion16 87 Words   |  7 Pages Marriage, Family, and Religion Omar De La Garza Texas AM International University Abstract The institutions of marriage and family are fundamental concepts to the functioning of our present day society. In this paper, marriage and family and their changes over time will be discussed. Topics such as religion, which plays an important role is the development and changes of ideas regarding these two topics will be approached as well as the social changes due to tradition and theRead MoreAbraham Lincoln And The Civil War944 Words   |  4 Pagesidentified the civil war as religious war: it is a will of God. He stated, God â€Å"gives to both North and South this terrible war as the woe†; therefore, â€Å"with firmness in the right as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in† (Lincoln). Opposite to Douglas ideas that slavery is natural, secular, and constitutional right, Lincoln asserted anti-slavery, linked to Evangelical Protestantism (Magagna). Against evolutionism, he appealed the religious morality, thoughts, andRead MoreM idterm 1 Sample Multiple Choice Questions Essay1260 Words   |  6 Pagesa free and democratic society; d) We are a caring and compassionate society; e) Both (a) and (c); 3. What can we retain from the Supreme Court ruling in Multani Singh? a) That religious freedom is absolute and employers and institutions must always make accommodations for it; b) Religious freedom is not absolute however institutions must accommodate it unless the restriction is considered a reasonable limit; c) That religious freedom is protected if the person’s religious beliefs are consistentRead MoreReligious Beliefs Affect The Medical Decision Making Of Canadians1727 Words   |  7 PagesAbstract This research project aims to explore the ways in which religious beliefs affect the medical-decision making of Canadians in Ottawa. Due to the diverse population in Canada people often practice medical plurality; which is employing biomedical and spiritual methods of healing modalities. Several Canadians have adopted informal guidelines according to their belief systems that dictate which medical healing modalities they seek when illness arises. In order to investigate the ways in whichRead MoreThe word ‘solidarity’ refers to: ‘The integration, and the degree and type of integration, shown900 Words   |  4 PagesThe word ‘solidarity’ refers to: ‘The integration, and the degree and type of integration, shown by a society or group with people and their neighbours. It refers to the ties in a society or relationships that bind people to one another.’ What forms the basis of solidarity varies between societies. Durkheim argued that solidarity is significant because it is a necessary component of a functioning civilisation and a necessary component of a fulfilling human life. Durkheim recognised two broad typesRead MoreEssay about Sociological Theory1497 Words   |  6 Pagessimplicity only the key ideals will be discussed. Functionalism looks at society as an organized structure of inter-related institutions; and the various ways these institutions interact together within a social structure. Examples of these institutions are the family, work, education and religion. The Functionalist perspective is best understood using an organismic analogy: Societies are comparable to living organisms (for example, a human being). Each part of

Symptoms Of Multiple Sclerosis And Bell s Palsy - 1347 Words

Neurological Abnormalities Jessica Schultz Brigham Young University – Idaho Neurological Abnormalities Bell’s Palsy Bell’s palsy is a condition that affects the muscles of the face. The muscles become weak and slow for an impermanent period of time. This disorder occurs when the nerve that controls the facial muscles, cranial nerve VII, becomes inflamed or swollen. The cause of the damaged is not officially known, but researchers believe that is could be the result of a viral infection. The following are some questions the nurse could ask a patient to help diagnose this condition: have you had trouble eating or drinking? have you had difficulty making facial expressions? have you experienced muscle twitches, dry eyes or a†¦show more content†¦The third factor that may play a role in the development of multiple sclerosis is that it may be brought on by a viral infection. The following are some questions the nurse could ask a patient to help diagnose this condition: have you been experiencing any vision problems? tingling or numbness? pain or unusual spasms? weakness or fatigue? balance problems? dizziness? have you had any problems with your bladder? any sexual dysfunction problems? have you experienced any other symptoms relating to your cognitive function? Multiple sclerosis shows some commonalities with Meningitis. Both disorders affect the brain and spinal cord, and can be a result of a viral infection. Similar symptoms are also seen with Multiple sclerosis and Meningitis such as, vision impairments, and a feeling of weakness or fatigue. The two disorders differ because Multiple sclerosis affects the myelin sheath on the central nervous system cells, and Meningitis specifically affects the meninges that cover the brain and spinal cord. Another difference is that Multiple sclerosis can be associated with genetics, and Meningitis is contracted from others. (June Halper and Steven Kim, 2015) Meningitis Meningitis is best described as an inflammation of the meninges in the brain. Meninges are membranes that cover and protect the brain and spinal cord. Meningitis often occurs when the fluid surrounding the meninges is infected. Meningitis is most commonly caused by viralShow MoreRelatedUnit 2 study guide8637 Words   |  35 Pagesonset is acute, characterized by mucopurulent drainage from one or both eyes. The disease often is self-limiting and resolves spontaneously in 10 to 14 days. Antibiotic eyedrops usually are effective. Viral conjunctivitis: caused by an adenovirus. Symptoms vary from mild to severe. Some strains of virus cause conjunctivitis and pharyngitis (pharyngoconjunctival fever), and others cause keratoconjunctivitis. Both diseases are contagious, with watering, redness, and photophobia. Treatment is symptomatic

Hometown Deli Free Essays

Hometown Deli Case Study The Hometown Deli was established by your grandfather in 1952 in your hometown. It offers many different kinds of specialized coffees, teas, a full service bakery, homemade soups, sandwiches, and salads. The Deli has been a local hotspot for many years and has served as a community gathering place. We will write a custom essay sample on Hometown Deli or any similar topic only for you Order Now Your grandfather recently retired from the business and has asked you to take it over. You are very excited about this opportunity! Unfortunately, business has been steadily declining over the last five years. Although your grandfather was an expert at running the deli, it is outdated. There are no computers in the store and all ordering takes place manually. Your grandfather had a terrific memory and knew all of his customers by name, but unfortunately, none of this information is located anywhere in the store. The family recipes for the baked goods and soups are also stored in your grandfather’s memory. Inventory is tracked in a note pad, along with employee payroll, and marketing coupons. The Deli does not have a Web site, uses very little marketing except word-of-mouth, and essentially still operates the same as it did in 1952. Throughout this course you will own and operate Hometown Deli, taking advantage of business practices discussed in the class, the Course Modules and the textbook to increase profits, keep the business running, and bring the Deli into the 21st century. Note: As you approach these assignments, you will find it helpful to think about your own experiences with a local deli or sandwich shop. Making a trip to a local deli may help you think about the processes, challenges, and opportunities. Upon completion of these assignments you will have performed an array of activities to demonstrate your ability to apply the course content to a â€Å"real world situation† to: †¢Analyze the business environment and identify strategic areas for improvement (Stage 1) †¢Propose an appropriate technology solution to improve a selected business process (Stage 2) †¢Evaluate various IT considerations of the proposed technology solution (Stage 3) †¢Communicate your solution and the IT considerations to stakeholders using a presentation format (Stage 4) †¢Identify and explain the next steps in implementing the solution (Stage 5) The case study and assignments address the Course Outcomes to enable you to: †¢analyze business strategy to recognize how technology solutions enable strategic outcomes †¢analyze internal and external business processes to identify information systems requirements †¢identify and plan IT solutions that meet business objec tives. STAGED ASSIGNMENTS The staged assignments are designed to follow the relevant course modules and chapters of the textbook in the class schedule, and are due on the dates shown in the Syllabus. Stage 1 Project: Business Environment Analysis (Word document with analysis) Stage 2 Project: Technology-Supported Solution Proposal (Word document with proposed solution) Stage 3 Project: Template for IT Considerations (Word table) Stage 4 Project: Executive Briefing Presentation (PowerPoint Presentation on proposed solution) Stage 5 Project: Outline of Next Steps (Word document outline with next steps) The weight of the assignments is shown in the Course Syllabus. The due dates are shown in the Course Schedule. Because these assignments require you to use Microsoft Word and PowerPoint (as indicated in the instructions), you may need to â€Å"brush up† on your familiarity with these or use functions that perhaps are new to you. Therefore, do not wait until the last minute to begin an activity. You should read through all the assignments in advance to ensure you (1) understand what is expected, and (2) allow enough time to effectively create the information being requested. Assignments for stages 1, 2 and 5 require external research, outside of the textbook. The grading rubric is included with each assignment. These assignments are designed to help you identify how to effectively analyze and interpret information to improve the business. This is an opportunity for you to apply critical thinking skills and think like a business professional. When you are writing a paper or developing a presentation, prepare it as if it is going to a boss that you want to impress with your knowledge and abilities. Don’t just go through the mechanics of pulling together information — think about what you are doing, why you’re doing it, whether it make sense, whether the information seems realistic, and what the results show. Support your recommendations with your research. One of the prerequisites for this course is that you have a fundamental working knowledge of word processing and presentation software. Detailed instructions for each Staged Project, 1 through 5, are separately posted in the Course Content area. You must prepare each assignment in the indicated format (i. e. , memo, report, presentation or other specified format) and submit it as an attachment through your individual Assignments Folder in WebTycho. No credit will be given for assignments submitted in file formats other than those stated in the assignment instructions. Additional Information There is a significant amount of information available to you to assist in developing your skills in using the Microsoft Office Products. MS Word and PowerPoint are required for these exercises. The textbook comes with access to the publisher’s website (http://www. mhhe. com/baltzan) where there are a number of resources, including Tech Plug-Ins for Office 2003, 2007 and 2010. Don’t hesitate to use the on-line help and wizard tools built into the MS Office applications for help as you work with the software tools. There are also other web sites, such aswww. eHow. com, and www. microsoft. com that provide tips. Even YouTube has some useful videos demonstrating various techniques. How to cite Hometown Deli, Papers

Financial Instrument free essay sample

Because the process of determining the exercise price is dependent upon the arithmetic average of the index of 7 particular days during 7 month with 30 days of interval, extremely volatile results due to the daily fluctuation of the market can be reasonably avoided. So, by arithmetic average, investors will be able to minimize the risks due to volatilities and seek rather stable returns as the investors of the product would be risk averters rather than risk seekers. b) Benefits to HSBC The main characteristic of Asian option is low volatility compared to other options. According to Black Scholes option pricing model, if the volatility is low, the option can also be priced lower. As HSBC needs to minimize the insurance premiums for the protection of the fund, it will try to minimize option premiums and relatively lower prices of Asian options will help HSBC remain profitable. In practice, as the option premiums for the protection of investment is usually expensive, the seller of the product write options and put the cap on investment in order to reduce the total premium expenses. By using Average index for the premium, HSBC could become more profitable as the investment will become more popular and more profitable. Question 3 Question 4. Explain how the investor pays for 100% capital protection In the product, the present value of zero coupon bond that has the face value of $100,000, interest rate 6% of per annum annually compounded, and 4. 5 years of maturity is $76,934. 9 ( 10,000/(1+0. 06)4. 5). The difference of AUD23,065. 1 between PV of zero coupon bond and initial investment will be used for the purchase of the options to guarantee the initial investment. In addition, HSBC will write the call option that will keep the maximum return up to the cap of 70% of ASX 200 index with the participation rate of 100%. In order to maintain the participation rate of 100%, approximately 21. 156 contracts of options should be traded for the initial investment of $100,000. This will be explained in detail in Question 5. As the price of the bought call option for the capital protection is $705. 2 and the price of the written call option is $40. 9, investors will have to pay $14,323. 34[21. 156 x ($705. 2 – 40. )] as the insurance premium for the 100% capital protection and maintain cap of 70% on index. In short, it can be said that the investor combines zero coupon bond and the ‘bull spread’ strategy that can be to protect 100% capital. In addition, according to the Product Disclosure Statement(â€Å"PDS†) issued by HSBC, the separate upfront fee of 2. 475% will be deducted as an Advisor fee and a fee of 0. 825% will be deduc ted as administration fee. So, the fee of $3,300 will be deducted for $100,000 invested into HSBC for the Advisory and administration service. The payoff graph of the bull spread strategy is as below; Question 5. HSBC 100+ Series Samp;P/ASX 200 Linked Investment can be decomposed into bought call, sold call and 4 ? year zero coupon bond. In practice, when constructing Equity Linked Products like this, 100% participation ratio cannot be maintained by just trading one pair of bought and sold options. For example, only $3,246. 525 will be earned when 7 months’ average ASX200 index rises up to 70% from 4,637. 893 to 7,884. 418. But, as specified in the PDS, investors should earn 7,000, a return of 70% from initial investment of $10,000. So, the ideal number of option contracts will be 2. 156(7000 / 3,246. 525) for every $10,000 investment. In other words, as the participation rate for the Equity Linked Investment will only be 46. 38%($3,246. 52 / $7,000), the option of 2. 1561 contracts should be accompanied for every $10,000 investment in order to satisfy the conditions in the PDS. Below are the payoffs of individual financial instruments. Question 6. An alternative strategy for the replicated portfolio can be made by using the combination of Samp;P/ASX 200 Exchange Traded Fund(ETF) combined with the bought put option and sold call option. In order to exactly replicate the Equity Linked products with 100% participation ratio, each set of the contract should be multiplied by 2. 1561. SPDR Samp;P/ASX 200 Fund can be used as the equity indexfund that imitating the return of ASX 200. But the problems can occur when using the alternative strategy as listed. a) When the options are priced as a form of Asian option, the price is calculated on average index. But, the price of equity index future is dependent upon daily indexes. So, the exact replication may not be possible. ) Considering the transaction costs of buying, selling options and index fund, a complicated fine tuning process is required to make similar profit as original product. Instead of investing in ASX 200 index fund, we can use synthetic forward to imitate ASX 200 index movement. We can buy a call and sell a put on the ASX200 index with same strike price and time to expiry. 7. The benefit of investor Investors who want to replicate the portfolio may try to do t he same investment. The investor can deposit 4. 5years zero coupon bond and combine bull spread(buy call option and sell call option). But, the replication may have following difficulties for the individual investor. a) Due to the characteristics of the equity index option that need daily settlement, individual investors should keep an eye on daily indexes and need to reserve enough liquidity to answer the margin call if required. Unlike investing in HSBC Samp;P/ASX 200 linked investment, investors cannot just invest and do nothing. Daily actions are needed to keep the investment going. b) In order to meet the 100% participation ratio, about 2. 156 contracts of options are needed for each $10,000 investment. As the minimum contract size is restricted to 10 in the Australian Exchange, individual investors cannot meet the planned participation ratio. To meet the same payoffs, the investment amount should be set to the multiple of $46,378( $10,000 x 10 / 2. 156) to in order to keep to the market-defined option contract requirement. Instead, if investors invest in HSBC, they will be able to invest relatively free amount of money. c) In the Australian exchange, special type of options such as Asian options are not traded. Instead, individual investors may be able to split the investment in options to 7 maturities to get the average returns, and heavy administration efforts follow for them to bear. By investing in HSBC, investors will be able to save their resources in individual wealth management. d) With the structured product from HSBC, investors can enjoy tax concession. But, if investors would try to structure the product, a complicated tax issue may appear that would need advices from tax specialists the cost of which would not be negligible for individual investors. Question 8. ) When an investor intends to hold the investment until its maturity, he(she) has to undertake some risks. * Investors could lose the gain from term deposit. Even though the fund guarantee 100% capital protection, that does not mean that investors lose nothing. The Underlying Index may depreciate as well as appreciate and the ending underlying average index level could fall below the initial index causing zero Return on t he Investment(ROI). * Even if the underlying index exceeds over the return cap of 70% at maturity, still an investor would lose return above the return cap. Compared to direct investment into index products in the bullish market, the product carries opportunity costs that are hard to carry for some risk seekers to endure. * Investors need to pay the fee of 3. 3%(Upfront fee of 2. 475% plus Administration fee of 0. 825%) which would not be needed for direct investment into market. * Counterparty risk exists to the product. As this product is not backed up by Australian Government Guarantee Scheme, in case of failure of HSBC, though it is not specified in the PDS, return from the product could be substantially lower than declared capital protection level. Early termination in respect of the investment can be declared by HSBC preceding the maturity date regardless of the investor’s will to keep the investment to maturity. And there are no safeguards against HSBC’s internal failure on fund management or operational catastrophe as management of the fund is wholly dependent on HSBC’s capacity to deal with the stated contra ct and ability to lead the daily operation. b) When an investor does not intend to hold the investment until its maturity, he(she) has to undertake some risks. Though there is no early withdrawal fee, no upfront fee is not allocated over holding period and is not returned. Investor could waste relatively heavier amount of fees in early withdrawal. * For the early withdrawal before maturity date whether in whole or in part, investor can receive less than initial investment because capital protection applies only on the Maturity Date, and not on Early Withdrawal date. * There are tax consequences on early withdrawal. Unlike withdrawal at Maturity where the capital gain that an investor makes will be eligible for concessional treatment as a discount capital gain where the relevant conditions are satisfied, early withdrawal within 12months after acquisition date will not get concessional treatment. Question 9. There are many issues that HSBC needs to consider when designing the complicated product like this. In short, the issues can be classified to product design, profitability, operational risks and counterparty risks, and marketing issues as detailed below. ) Product design issue: * The product is different from ordinary ELS that guarantees investment protection and cap level by the spot index of the maturity date that market practice because it uses the 7 months’ arithmetic average of the closing level of the Samp;P/ASX 200 index. As the options that calculate its return based on 7 months’ average are not traded in the Australian Exchange, HSBC should either divide option protecti on to 7 different maturities and trade them in ASX or make an Over-The-Counter(OTC) option with the relevant counterparty. HSBC needs to decide whether to invest in zero coupon bond and bull spread or to invest in equity index product with bought put and sold call options in order to guarantee 100% capital protection and 70% cap over Samp;P/ASX 200 index and to cope with the probable early withdrawal requests from individual investors. * Investors may be able to assume that the product is based on SPDR Samp;P/ASX200 index fund because investors’ cost base is dependent upon market value of the fund when calculating capital gain or loss according to the taxation consequences opinion issued by Mallesons Stephen Jaques which is contained in the PDS. So, it is important to operate the product in order to occur reasonable return within the pre-determined investment guideline. b) Profitability issue * In order to meet the participation rate to 100%, about 2. 156 option contracts have to be attached to the zero coupon bond of $10,000 and the costs for the purchase of the options come from the difference between present value of zero coupon bond and investor’s investment as summarized below table. Initial investment by investor| 10,000. 00| Zero coupon bond interest rate| 6% | Investment Period| 4. 0 | Present Value of the protected fund. | 7,693. 49 | Difference between PV and initial investment| 2,306. 51 | Price of Embedded option @ protection level| 705. 20 | Price of Embedded option @ cap level| -40. 90 | The number of option contract to satisfy 100% participation ratio| 2. 156 | Net option premium cost| 1,432. 33 | Adviser fee(2. 475%)| 247. 50 | Admin fee(0. 825%)| 82. 50 | Net margin from bank| 544. 17 | So, if funds a re operated as planned, HSBC would be able to get margin of 5. 4% from investors after deducting all necessary initial expenses. But the margin may not be enough for HSBC as it will still need the costs to keep the fund going(management, operational expenses, transaction costs, and more) and it should answer for the investors’ abrupt early withdrawal. Management need to keep details on the expenses. c) Operational Risk management issue * It is extremely important to build internal operation structure that would record all transaction and keep mark to market prices accurately. With the heavy amount of fund going in and out of HSBC for trading, a strict internal control system to keep the cashflow in designated circle between HSBC and counterparties should be built in advance. * Enough liquidities to meet the margin calls of holding option positions should be prepared and managed with solid outlook on economic prospects along with Samp;P/ASX 200 index. d) Counterparty issue * A s the investment in zero coupon bond with 4. 5 years of maturity is crucial in building the product structure, it is extremely important to purchase risk-free or lowest risk bonds with solid credit rating. As the bond itself is not 100% risk free asset and carries the risk of going default, during the investment period, HSBC should keep an eye on the performance of the bond and be ready to switch to alternative bonds with the same remaining maturities. * If the option trades are done over the counter, HSBC should focus some of its resources to the counterparty so that the pre-arranged contracts will be executed in timely and accurate manner. e) Marketing issue * HSBC should make sure that the marketing plan of the product is planned and executed appropriately. The success of the product is dependent upon the amount of the viable contract so that HSBC could maintain bonds and option contract as designed and keep efficient internal operational structure. * HSBC should have a set a minimum level of total investment under management and set the plan to call off all investment and return the amount back to investors in case total application amount is below feasible level. * Also HSBC should anticipate the likely maximum level of total investment to process the applications and operate the process within its capacity. Even after the fund structure is designed, the fund cannot be launched if the recent market is extraordinarily bullish and turbulent as the individual investors will believe that the market is already over the top and will not seek further return after 4. 5 years. If the market is too bearish and under recession, individual investors would lose any motivations to keep their assets for 4. 5 years. * So, HSBC should focus on touchin g investors’ desire to keep relatively safe return with the protection on invested funds when the market is relatively calm and the indexes have been stable. - [ 1 ]. An  Asian option  (or  average value  option) is a special type of  option contract. The payoff is determined by the average underlying price over some pre-set period of time. ; Asian options are thus one of the basic forms of  exotic options. Asian options are so called because they were introduced in Tokyo, Japan, in 1987, at a branch of an American bank. [ 2 ]. A bull call spread is constructed by buying a call option with a low exercise price (K), and selling another call option with a higher exercise price. Often the call with the lower exercise price will be at-the-money while the call with the higher exercise price is out-of-the-money. Both calls must have the same underlying security and expiration month. [ 3 ]. Payoff from bought call option = 7,884. 418 – 4,637. 893. [ 4 ]. The  SP/ASX 200 Index  (XJO) is recognised as the investable benchmark for the Australian equity market, it addresses the needs of investment managers to benchmark against a portfolio characterised by sufficient size and liquidity. The SP/ASX 200 is comprised of the SP/ASX 100 plus an additional 100 stocks. It forms the basis for the SP/ASX 200 Index Future and Options and the SPDR SP/ASX 200 Exchange Traded Fund (ETF). [ 5 ]. SPDR SP/ASX 200 seeks to closely match, before fees and expenses, the returns of the SP/ASX 200 Index. Its approach is designed to provide portfolios with low portfolio turnover, accurate tracking, and lower costs. [ 6 ]. Division 115 of the Income Tax Assessment 1997 Act

The Roles of Men and Women in a Society Essay Example For Students

The Roles of Men and Women in a Society Essay The Roles of Men and Women in a Society There is a complexity in understanding the role of men and women in a society. Scientists and biologists are challenging themselves to explain the mental and behavioral processes of genders. Natalie Angier born and raised in New York writes â€Å"Men, Women, Sex and Darwin† an essay about evolutionary psychology and the misleading perceptions it has women. She focuses on five topics that the theory argues proving them wrong, and using them for support. The first area the theory introduces â€Å"men are more promiscuous and less sexually reserved than women are† (30). Evolutionary psychology proposes that men are always after sex. They explicitly say men hold a special force attracting them to sex which women cannot fully comprehend. Angier explains that men can be open about their sexual life, unlike women who are impacted by culture and society. Women are judged as â€Å"either chaste or trampy† (35) a woman is seen as pure or a slut. Since the beginning of time women are looked down upon when regarding their sex life. Harassment of women based on their sex life is due to religious and/or cultural influence, which has a stronghold over American society. We will write a custom essay on The Roles of Men and Women in a Society specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now Relating back to Christianity, if you are a virgin it means you are pure and clean, on the other hand if you are not then you are dirty and considered a lower class. I agree that women have the same sex drive that men do, but due to society and culture, women feel unconfident and unwilling to show it. I believe that it is not because â€Å"women supposedly have a lower sex drive than men do† (36) but that they have more precaution of become pregnant. Men have this need to have multiple sex partners for their own confidence. I agree with Angier that men have this competition with other males to see who can get more women. They do this for their need to be dominating other males. The ability of a men attaining more females boosts their self-motivation and satisfaction. Evo-psychos’ second interest is that â€Å"men are naturally attracted to youth and beauty† (30). The theory says that men are attracted to these women because of child bearing. It also says that a healthier younger woman will be able to carry his children. I disagree with this reason, I think that media influences what we expect from people. Unconsciously in our society we are brainwashed by magazines, TV and advertisements, to tells us how we should be and who we are attracted to. If a young child plays with Barbie’s, it automatically gives her the stereotype of how she is theoretical to look like when she is older. Women constantly have an urge in our society to be thin, models and actors tell us how we are supposed to be. If we look at another society for example Africa, I found this article on the web about men attracted to fat women being another type of society. â€Å"They conducted a study in South Africa where fat women are preferred (like many other places) and theyve found correlation that relate to fertility, health, and even how hungry a guy is, due to evolutionary instincts. (Shaolin36). In the essay Angier quotes from Gowaty, â€Å"What pleases me might not please somebody else† (39) disagreeing with the evolutionary psychology theory. Depending on where a person is from, how culture and society influenced them will determine whom they are attracted to. The third statement that evolutionary psychology has made is â€Å"women are in herently more interested in a stable relationship than men are† (30). They perceive that women want someone who will provide for them, and be able to take responsibilities in control. I agree with this concept. .ua71e50212db92b285ecef7dab6aa140a , .ua71e50212db92b285ecef7dab6aa140a .postImageUrl , .ua71e50212db92b285ecef7dab6aa140a .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .ua71e50212db92b285ecef7dab6aa140a , .ua71e50212db92b285ecef7dab6aa140a:hover , .ua71e50212db92b285ecef7dab6aa140a:visited , .ua71e50212db92b285ecef7dab6aa140a:active { border:0!important; } .ua71e50212db92b285ecef7dab6aa140a .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .ua71e50212db92b285ecef7dab6aa140a { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .ua71e50212db92b285ecef7dab6aa140a:active , .ua71e50212db92b285ecef7dab6aa140a:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .ua71e50212db92b285ecef7dab6aa140a .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .ua71e50212db92b285ecef7dab6aa140a .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .ua71e50212db92b285ecef7dab6aa140a .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .ua71e50212db92b285ecef7dab6aa140a .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .ua71e50212db92b285ecef7dab6aa140a:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .ua71e50212db92b285ecef7dab6aa140a .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .ua71e50212db92b285ecef7dab6aa140a .ua71e50212db92b285ecef7dab6aa140a-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .ua71e50212db92b285ecef7dab6aa140a:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Usama bin Laden Biography EssayIf a woman is looking for someone to settle down with then this proposition makes sense. This fourth statement applies also to the second, â€Å"women are naturally attracted to high-status men with resources† (30) demonstrating Darwin’s â€Å"survival for the fittest’ in action. For a woman to find a man with the right resources it will lead her to peruse a child with him. If a man has more money and a stable job, then the woman knows she has a provider and her children will be cared after. If a women were to settle with someone of lower rank than her unable to support a family, then that would no satisfy the needs of h er life and goals. The last topic evolutionary psychology brings up is how â€Å"humankind’s core preferences and desires were hammered out long, long ago†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (30). Evo-psychology tells us that since ancestral time men have been dominant over women. Generally, women come across upon as being quiet and nurturing, whereas men are shown with strength and dominance. A man has always been the dominating sex, dating back to the Stone Age. During that period, several thousands of years ago, the male has been the one who would go out hunting, and battle. Women are seen as a â€Å"care-taker† and making sure that the group was satisfied. Even today in our society we see how men still dominates our world. If we take a look of all the people who have impact on big decisions, their all male. Researchers are still analyzing why genders behave and act the way they do. Angier has put together her essay clarifying her reasoning’s to the theories that evolutionary psychologist have came up with. Work Cited 1. Angier, Natalie. â€Å"Men, Women, Sex, and Darwin. † 50 Essays. Ed. Denise B. Wydra. 2nd ed. Boston: Bedford, 2007. (29-41). Print. 2. Shaolin36. â€Å"untitled†. DearCupi. ORG. â€Å"n. d†. Web. 5 October 2009.

qwerty essays

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Research about managing the lablour costs of food production Speech or Presentation

Research about managing the lablour costs of food production - Speech or Presentation Example It is important to note that a restaurant operating on a labor cost which is as low as 20 percent has a promising future. If levels of labor cost begin to rise, the company should begin to seek on ways of lowering lest it cause a sham to the business. During my work experience at Royal restaurant, if the restaurant made a total daily sales of $10 000, then it had to spend no more than $2 000 paying for labor. Although employees’ salaries which match the volume of sales may help ease the labor costs, key issues such as improvement of productivity at workplace and wise roster plan of employees yield marvelous results. While working at Royal star restaurant, it was a common rule that if the number of customers visiting the restaurant was below 200 per day, the daily sales were over $8000.This also meant that the hotel spends less than $1500 on labor cost. Rostering allowed the hotel to know the working hours of part time workers while comparing it with the sales made during the t ime. If for instance the sales reduce, the number of part time workers was reduced to cut the cost of labor. Other issues that help control labor costs include, cross-training employees, performing frequent staff audits and reviews, employing adequate employees among other measures. Championing Labor Cost Awareness This is normally calculated from the volume of sales made. Labor costs percentage can be calculated as follows: A restaurant that hopes to run successfully must seek to operate at a minimum labor cost percentage that is below 20 percent. At Royal Hotel for instance the labor cost was normally 10 to 16 percent. Cross-Training staff Employee training is vital in any business venture. It is therefore important to cross train employees and the business with a view of equipping workers with vast skills necessary in restaurant service. This is important because the management can schedule fewer workers to various sectors of the restaurant while still being in a position to achi eve same results in the level of production as well as service delivery standards. Cross training can be done by training prep cooks to perform food grilling, training hostess on the work done by the servers and busses to serve food. At Royal hotel, the receptionists were often taken to seminars on public relations and customer satisfaction. Superannuation and Retirement Superannuation is a way of gathering for the retirement of your employees. This is done by making contributions to the super funds of each employee. In Australia for instance, an average of 9% of the employee’s salary is paid into the employee’s super fund. At Royal Star restaurant, the fund is awarded upon retirement or demise of any staff. Conducting Frequent Staff Audits and Reviews The cost of labor depends on a large extent to improvement and level of productivity. Therefore, it is important to perform regular audits. This can be done by assessing the performance of employees. The assessment shoul d focus on working days and hours of employees. If found that a substantial amount of time is lost through long breaks or down time, a review should be done to adjust the time accordingly. Care must be taken to aid in proper communication among the employees in helping communicating concerns and ideas. An audit was done after every three months at Royal Hotel. Control Labor Cost With

Communities Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Communities - Essay Example So, what makes a group like ours a community is the existence of values, norms, customs, and traditions that are shared and respected by one group of people. As such, the world now no more consists of individuals but of social groups and communities that are characterized by unique sets of values and norms. This means that the world is actually composed of different cultures. A community then is characterized by the ways of life of the members of a group, including how they dress, their marriage customs and family life, their patterns of work, religious ceremonies and leisure time. In the case of the group I belong to, we share the habit of going to the cafà ©, having our preferred drink, and exchanging talks and stories. Actually, the main need of the group I belong to is the need to socialize and feel that one does live alone in this world. Rather, there is a need t listen to other people’s stories, problems, and fun moments. However, some of the tensions or differences that work against the cohesion of this community include the existence of some different cultural backgrounds for the members of the community. For example, one member of our group belongs to an African culture, another one belongs to an Asian culture, and a third one is a Hispanic. Typically, a group of individuals who belong to the same society or group are characterized by certain traits and values that may be completely different from, and sometimes opposite to, other values and norms. In our group, some members belong originally to eastern societies, while others belong to Wester n societies. As for me, with my European background, I feel excited and relaxed when communicating with individuals who belong to different cultures and backgrounds. Thus, I feel that the group I belong to is quite interesting and appealing to me, as it enriches my life and gives me a chance to have an eye on other

The Spectrochemical Series Lab Report Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

The Spectrochemical Series - Lab Report Example Also ammonium chloride (NH4Cl), 16.00 g was dissolved in concentrated aqueous ammonia (NH4OH), 16 m ,there was formation of white suspension as a result of this. The dissolving process was done in separate beakers. The 2 solutions were then mixed in a casserole. These led to the formation of an orange solution. Following this, there was small increment addition of 4 ml of 30% hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) into this solution; this resulted to the formation of black solution with fizzing of oxygen gas. Lastly, the solution changed to maroon. The solution was heated on a steam bath until thick slurry was obtained; it was then put in an ice bath to cool. The rinsing of the solution was carried using 3 M hydrochloric acid (65 ml) in a 200 ml beaker and heated 10 minutes at 60?C. The solution was placed on an ice bath to cool and it was later filtered under a vacuum and the resulting precipitate was washed with acetone and cold water (iced). As a result of this there was formation of a pink pre cipitate. Week 2: There was addition of 2 M aqueous ammonia (NH4OH) (200 ml) in a beaker with the solid then heated to 50-60?C. this resulted to the formation of a cherry red solution. Then later, there was addition of concentrated hydrochloric acid (65 ml) to the solution. This resulted to the formation of white fumes. This solution was then heated for 10 min. ... Then later the precipitate was put at 110 ?C in an oven for 1 hour. Lastly, the solid mass was obtained using an electronic balance. Results and Discussion: Complex Formula of complex Color of solution Absorbance peak (nm) Splitting energy (J) A [Co(NH3)5Cl]2+ Pink 530.76 374519E-19 B [Co(NH3)6]3+ Orange 474.86 4.18228E-19 C [Co(NH3)5F]2+ (Not Given) 500-515 3.9756E-19 - 3.85981E-19 D [Co(NH3)5Br]2+ Purple 548.24 3.62578E-19 E [Co(NH3)5H2O]3+ Light red/orange 497.04 3.9994E-19 Table 1: Shows formulae of the complex, Solution Color, peak absorbance, and the splitting energy Of the 5 cobalt complexes employed in the experiment. Calculations (sample B): ?E = hc/? ? E = (6.626x10-34Js)(3x108m/s)/(474.86x10-9m) ? E = 4.18228E-19J Overall Reaction: 2CoCl2.6H2O +10NH4OH +2NH4Cl +H2O2 +3Cl- Â  ? 2[Co(NH3)5Cl]Cl2 + 24H2O + NH3Â   Re-crystallized solid Mass = solid mass + vial mass) – vial mass =15.76 – 13.25 = 2.51 g Reactions: CoCl2Â ·6H2O ? [Co(H2O)6]2+ + 2 Cl- [Co(H2O)6]2+ (aq) + 2NH3(aq) ? [Co(OH)2(H2O)4](s) + 2NH4+(aq) [Co(OH)2(H2O)4](s) + 5NH3(aq)? [Co(NH3)5]2+(aq) + 4H2O(l) + 2OH?(aq) [Co(NH3)5]2+(aq)+ ? H2O2? [Co(NH3)5]3+ + OH- (aq) [Co(NH3)5]3+ + 3Cl- ?[Co(NH3)5Cl]2+ + 2Cl- ?[Co(NH3)5Cl]Cl2 Mol of CoCl2.6H2O = mass/molar mass = 5.00/238 = 0.021008 mol CoCl2.6H2O : [Co(NH3)5Cl]Cl2 = 2 : 2 = 1 : 1 Mol of [Co(NH3)5Cl]Cl2 = 0.021008 mol Mass of [Co(NH3)5Cl]Cl2 = 0.021008 X 250.5 = 5.26 g % yield = (actual yield / theoretical yield) X 100 = (2.51 / 5.26) X 100 = 47.71 % This experiment was able to determine the identity of each of these five cobalt complexes. Basing on the table information provided, the Cobalt complexes can be determined easily by arranging them according to wavelength from smallest to the largest: D < A < C < E < B This arrangement corresponds

Effectiveness of Direct Mail on Cigarette Vending Industry

Effectiveness of Direct Mail on Cigarette Vending Industry The Effectiveness of Direct Mail on the Cigarette Vending Industry in the United Kingdom Irrespective of the mode and methods adopted for marketing, including direct mail, the cigarette vending industry continues to prosper not only in the United Kingdom, but also across the world. At the same time there is a continuous rise in the spread of a number of diseases directly related with smoking including chronic respiratory diseases, cardiovascular diseases and various types of cancers in turn leading to increased death rates amongst the smoking populations. One of the major causes of premature deaths in developing countries, the figures for United Kingdom alone show that approximately 120,000 individuals die every year from diseases directly related to smoking, which is an alarming 20 present of all deaths in a given year. A similar study on smoking also revealed that cancer alone accounts for nearly a third of all deaths from smoking, and another one sixth die from other causes related to smoking. Figures for the younger generation entering the smoking populations of the United Kingdom showed that there was a gradual rise between the years 1988 and 1997,and a somewhat similar rise in the figures amongst adult smoking populations. Marketing departments of cigarette manufacturing companies around the world would least care that an individual smoking cigarette on a regular basis more than doubles the risk of dying before he or she reaches the age of 65. If there is any consolation for these companies adopting various lucrative direct mail strategies for vending and marketing cigarettes, smoking by pregnant women have been found to result in severe repercussions for the foetus as well as new born baby. These include an increased risk of miscarriage, reduced birth weight and potential for prenatal deaths. In similar context, parents who continue to smoke after pregnancy invite increased chances of sudden death syndrome in their infants. The following dissertation will however limit its discussions and studies, and present its findings on the effectiveness of direct mail in the cigarette vending industry of the United Kingdom. (DOH, 1998) Introduction One of the most widely accepted facts and one that has been proven beyond any doubt is that smoking poses a number of health risks. In addition smokers are more than likely to contract certain diseases in comparison to those who do not smoke at all. It is also a fact that smoking is largely accepted as an addictive habit, and with the passage of time, and advances in the study of and implications of smoking alto openly reveal that today it is not merely an addictive habit; on the contrary it is a collection of human behaviours which also includes smoking. It must also be borne in mind that since it is an addiction, and for some indeed a very strong habit, it is wrong to assume that this habit cannot be given up. In fact, there have been numerous cases where individuals have totally given up smoking. It is precisely this line of approach that has made major cigarette manufacturers to print health warning instructions on all their respective packs of cigarettes. Furthermore, majority of the cigarette manufacturing companies around the world, including those of the United Kingdom comply with requisite regulations and legislations with respect of marketing, advertisement and sales of cigarettes. There are also companies, which have their own pack labelling policies, which go beyond the requisite legislation of the respective host country. It is perhaps this lapse, if one may wish to call it, which has allowed majority of cigarette manufacturing companies to guise their marketing, promotion, advertising and selling policies into a philosophy which acknowledges the right of the adult populations to smoke, and consequently respect and protect that particular right. (Pierce et al,1998; Beemer and Siegel, 2000; Safer and Chaloupka, 1999; Anderson etal, 2002; Slade, 2001; Lewis and Littler, 1999) In pursuance of the rights of the smokers, cigarette manufacturing companies also stand against any excessive price regulations and tax measures which are presumably aimed at reducing demand for cigarettes. An independent view of a number of tax and price measures levied by various countries including the United Kingdom reveal that the smoking populations are unduly punished for the pleasure of smoking, and governments largely fail to take into account the huge sums generated from revenues on the various taxes levied on cigarettes. These high rates of taxes levied on cigarettes then results in the illegal and often illicit trade of smuggling cigarettes in turn undermining the legitimate market for cigarette companies running and operating under legal channels of business. A brief on the United Kingdoms cigarette industry reveals that 1 in every 5 cigarettes is smuggled into the country, which adds to a huge20 present of the entire cigarette industry of United Kingdom. In similar context is the call for a ban on the sale of duty free cigarettes, as the primary objective behind the promotion of duty free sale of cigarettes, or for that matter any other product is reduction in illicit trade of that particular item. A ban on the duty free sale of cigarettes would practically jeopardize the regulated duty free retail of that product, and at the same time have a minimal effect on the sale of cigarettes. On the contrary a ban on the duty free sale of cigarettes would simply bring about a shift in the market of cigarettes from a duty free environment to one that is largely controlled by domestic market. Another related aspect of the cigarette vending industry is that of various standards and policies which are aimed at raising awareness about the potential health risks associated with smoking. Trade zones such as those found in European Union for example are ample grounds for such standards and policies to be levied, which in turn allow for uniform results as well as derive common interests amongst the respective countries. The non-smoking segment of the populations is yet another vital area of focus for cigarette manufacturing companies. As also a public health issue, the non-smokers are prone to, and thus demand protective measures from passive smoking. In this respect, there exist two schools of thought; one that disregards any findings and conclusions, which present cigarette smoke as a potential health hazard for non-smokers. This group though acknowledges that cigarette smoke is indeed a source of annoyance as well as one of the causes of environmental pollution. Yet, they also call for an approach based on simple logic and common sense and co-operation. While the second school of thought, such as M/Gallaher, one of the major cigarette manufacturing and marketing companies in the UK, contend that government initiatives including the â€Å"Air Quality program are viable and productive programs to address vital public smoking issues. Literature Reviews There have a number of writings and case studies, which prove the effectiveness of direct mail on the cigarette vending industry,. These writings and studies have convincingly proven that direct mail has had positive affect and its influences have directly contributed to the rise in cigarette sales, in turn promoting the cigarette vending industry in general. Thus, it would not be wrong to state, as also proven from the following case studies, that the direct mail strategy in the cigarette vending industry has proven to affect smoking initiation as well as consumption. A brief historical perspective also reveals that cigarette manufacturing companies the world over have significantly changed their focus from the traditional advertising tithe use of techniques which emphasize on developing as well as maintaining a relationship with individual customers. Direct mail through direct communication thus offers cigarette-vending industry source of generating sales including obtaining measurable response in related areas of marketing. (Pierce et al, 1998; Beemer and Siegel,2000; Safer and Chaloupka, 1999; Anderson et al, 2002; Slade, 2001;Lewis and Littler, 1999) One of the most effective techniques, and perhaps one of the oldest as well, is that of utilizing mailing list of individuals maintained by major and minor cigarette vending companies alike. It is this list of individuals or customers, which serves as the potential for direct mail for cigarette vending industry. This list is also used for the distribution of coupons, sweepstakes offers, and brand-loyalty programme catalogues. Also included in the items distributed through direct mail are event announcements sponsored by the cigarette vending industry, and magazines published by major tobacco manufacturing companies. Practically all these items which are sent to individuals using the direct mail system contain activities and feature images which serve a two-fold purpose. First, these promotional items are designed in such a manner to make emotional appeals to customers. Second, they serve to strengthen, rather reinforce the existing images of the various brands of cigarettes in the market. There are different modes of collecting such list of individuals, which includes events that are sponsored by the cigarette industry, sweepstake forms, signed coupons as well as brand-loyalty program orders. These listings more often than not include some form of a response mechanism, which invites recipients to fill out surveys for example, or mention their lifestyle preferences. A statistic covering the US cigarette industry with particular reference to the role of direct mail reveals that there has been general rising trend in the use of direct mail in the United States. Brief on the 6 largest US cigarette manufacturers showed that they collectively spend a staggering amount of US 133.9 million dollars on direct mail in 2001. This was an increase of 131.8 present from the figures of 1998. One may note that these huge figures do not include sums spent on coupons or specialty items distributed through the mail system. (USFTC, 2002) A survey carried out by a team of doctors at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, in the United States provided for results which convincingly proved that direct mail in the cigarette vending industry not only enhanced initiation, but effectively raised the chances for potential smokers. This survey comprised of some 3900adults, and primarily focused on the answer to 3 questions. (University of Medicine and Dentistry NJ, 2002; SUDAAN, 2001) Questionnaire for the Survey Did any of the participant receive direct mail from a tobacco company within the last 6 months, including magazines, coupons, or catalogues. Did any of the participants use a coupon to buy cigarettes. Did any of the participants save any UPC codes, or tokens from any brand-loyalty programmes of a tobacco manufacturer. Results of the Survey The results of the above questionnaire from the selected adult participants showed that the current range of smoking populations were4 to 5 times more likely to have received direct mail within the past 6months as compared to those who had never smoked before or were belonged to the former smoking community. Second, the survey showed that smokers who had quit smoking in the last 12 months were 2 to 4 times more likely to receive direct mail as compared to those who had never smoked or those who belonged to the former smoking community. The survey also revealed that the white populations as compared to other groups of populations topped the list of individuals receiving direct mail offers for cigarettes or related material in aid of marketing for a given brand of cigarette. The use of coupons was found to be the highest amongst the female smoking community, white adults as well as those falling within the age group of 25 and 64 years. Similarly, saving for programs such as brand-reward programs was also found to be highest amongst current population of smokers, white segment of the population as well as the those falling within the age bracket of 18 and 24 years. Discussion on the Findings and Literature Review The above findings significantly provided evidence that direct mail served to increase the consumption of cigarettes, and subsequently ‘impede cessation. The said survey also found that coupons delivered through the direct mail to individuals were originally designed to bring about a reduction in prices of cigarettes, as well as simultaneously offset the impact of rise in taxes and other control measures levied by respective authorities. It was also found that programs offered through direct mail, such as brand-loyalty programs were intended to reward and encourage smokers through offer for additional purchases. The survey also revealed that direct mail marketing for cigarettes was originally designed to restrict switching of brands amongst customers. However, this strategy was only cover-up, and instead such direct mail offers allowed and in fact assisted smokers to continue smoking. The above literature review and survey on the role of direct mail on the cigarette vending industry shows numerous legislations, public campaigns against smoking, proven addictive behaviours resulting in serious health repercussions and rising awareness levels against thrill effects of smoking all have somewhat forced cigarette manufacturing companies the world over to adopt direct mail strategies. These direct mail strategies not only provide smokers with appealing and inviting messages; they move a step further and offer rewards for smoking. Direct mail also offers an excellent mode of communicating directly with customers, which is all too easily disguised and more than hidden from the piercing scrutiny of the public health community. It is also an effective strategy against rising restrictions on the different and traditional modes of advertising. In this respect a direct mail marketing plan of the world renowned Philip Morris also notes that direct mail is indeed one of the infl uencing factors in the use and consumption of cigarettes. (Slade, 2001; Strategic Plan, 1995) The above literature review and survey also reveals though direct mail is only one of the many marketing techniques adopted by cigarette vending industry, it is undoubtedly one which is witnessing continuous growth pattern, and one that is likely to grow in the future as well. The use of direct mail strategy is all the more worthy of concern as the cigarette vending industry is witnessed to continually change its marketing strategies in response to rising set of legislations and public opinion. It also a proven fact that practically all those involved in cigarette vending industry pursue a marketing strategy with a singular objective; one which aims to encourage initiation and consumption in smoking cigarettes. To curb such efforts, and to bring about a control for restricting such marketing strategies including direct mail, there is an ever-demanding need to fully comprehend marketing tactics utilized by cigarette vending industry. Included in these efforts is removal of the names of the individuals from the list maintained by cigarette vending industry by the smokers themselves as they decide to quit smoking. The exposure of probable intent on the part of cigarette vending industry and possible effects of such direct mail strategies along with measures, which serve as potential triggers, such as the presence of ashtrays, should also be taken into account. (Fiore et al, 2000; King, 2001) 2nd Literature Review In continuation with our dissertation on the effectiveness of direct mail on the cigarette vending industry, yet another research carried out by Lynn McFadden of the University of Strathclyde and published in the British Medical Journal issue of March 2001 is presented here. This research uncovers young peoples awareness about marketing strategies adopted by cigarette vending industry and their involvement and association with their smoking behaviours. One of the most successful methods of direct mail marketing is one, which is carried out at the point of sale. It is the venue of point of sale where a number of cigarette vending industrialists tend to focus, as also evident in the research findings of the University of Strathclyde. The research comprised of some 629 young people, aged between the ages of 15 and 16, and all of who had opted to be a part of the research through a postal consent procedure. The focus of the research, as also stated in the preceding lines waste examination of young peoples awareness of and involvement with cigarette marketing. The research also sought to determine the level of association, if any, amongst the group of young people between the level of awareness and the their smoking behaviours. The overall findings of the above research comprising of young people revealed an extra-ordinary high level of awareness and equally high levels of involvement of young people in the marketing strategies of cigarette vending industry. Out of the 629 participants involved in the research, some 95 present of them were more than aware of the various advertising techniques utilized by the cigarette vending industry, as also aware of the various methods utilized in the point of sale marketing. Thus, both the aspects, those of awareness and involvement with cigarette vending industry were strongly found to be related with being a smoker. This was more than proven from the statistics derived in the said research. For example out of the group of some 185 participants, 55 or a huge 30 present of the research participants admitted that they had received free gifts through coupons attached with the cigarette packs. A comparison with non-smoking community showed that only 11 present or 21 out of 199 participants had received fee gifts through coupons in the cigarette packs. Furthermore, it was also revealed in the same set of researches that aside from the awareness element about coupon schemes, participates were also equally aware about brand stretching and tobacco marketing, all of which were linked in some way or the other with their smoking habits. (DOH, 1992;Atiken et al, 1987; Led with, 1984; Charlton et al, 1997; Altman et al,1996; Aitken et al, 1991) The above research thus concluded the young populations aged 15 and16 were not only fully aware on the various aspects of cigarette marketing including direct mail and marketing at the point of sales; they were also more than associated with the different cigarette vending industries in the marketing of cigarettes and both the awareness and involvement in the marketing were linked with their smoking status and habits. These findings also called for a more stringent set of statutory legislations, as compared to the otherwise voluntary regulations which are primarily designed to protect these teenagers, and which have become somewhat ineffective. Other findings from the above carried out researches revealed and established the fact that the role of the mass media in advertising encouraged smoking amongst the younger populations. From a purely economics perspective, the same findings showed that expenditure on advertising pointed towards an increase in the prevalence, while a drop in the expenditures on advertising resulted in the subsequent drop in the prevalence of cigarette consumption, thereby proving a direct relationship between advertising and consumption of cigarettes. These studies focusing on the younger population showed that teenagers smoking cigarettes are more likely to appreciate as also be aware of the tobacco and cigarette advertising related sponsorships, merchandising and vending. In line with such studies, other cohort studies on the same segment of teenage smoking populations resulted in similar results and furthermore predicted a tendency of future smoking behaviours amongst the researched populations. (DOH, 1992; Aitken et al,1987; Led with, 1984; Charlton et al, 1997; Altman et al, 1996; Aitken al, 1991) A similar experiment involving some 2400 teenagers all aged a 15years, yet only differentiated by sex and postal addresses were taken for a research project from an area in the North of England. These teenagers were invited to participate in the research programme after due consent from their parents/guardians with the primary objective of deriving some 280 smokers from the total lot of participants. With response rate of more than 48 present, some 1062 responded to the call for invitation and studies carried out from the set of questionnaires mailed to each participant along with the consent form. The results obtained from the 1062 participant teenagers (all aged15 years) showed that one in every 5 teenager was involved in smoking,214 teenagers or 20 present of the respondents were regular smokers,825 or a huge 78 present not regular smokers, while 23 respondents or 2percent of the total respondents declined to divulge their smoking status. In continuation with the studies on the teenage smoking population, a random number of 373 respondents were gradually removed from the research list, as they were not regular smokers. The removal of these selected respondents further narrowed the research to those who were in the habit of, or were involved in smoking cigarettes. The number of respondents was now brought down from 1062, as also stated in the opening lines of these paragraphs, to 686 candidates only. These 686 teenage candidates were then interviewed through a team of professional interviewers, who were in turn instructed to make at least4 clear attempts to gain positive research results. The interviewers were not given any prior information as the status of smoking habits of the interviewed candidates so as to derive a transparent set of findings. Here too, the permission of the parents/guardians was sought prior to the interview, as well as a 5-Pound gift voucher was also handed to each candidate. In carrying out the above research 629 out of the total 686respondents were successfully interviewed. Those who were left out did so due to the passage of time, as by the time the research was concluded, the respondents had entered their 16th year, whereas the entire team of research candidates belonged to the 15 year old age bracket only. Each of the candidates was given two sets of questionnaires; one included a face to face interview with the teenage candidate, while the candidate in the presence of their guardians/parents filled out the second questionnaire. One may note that there was no influence of the parents presence on the part of the respondent teenagers. Each of the questionnaires resulted in the awareness, as well as the involvement of the candidates with the different techniques used in the marketing by the cigarette vending industry including direct mail marketing. The findings of the research revealed the smoking habits/status of the teenage candidates, their future intentions for smoking, education levels, and smoking by their peers, siblings, and whether their parents smoked or not. (DOH, 1992;Atiken et al, 1987; Led with, 1984; Charlton et al, 1997; Altman et al,1996; Aitken et al, 1991) A detailed analysis of the awareness element of the teenage group interviewed showed that in comparison to the non-smoking teenage population, those who smoked cigarettes were more than aware of practically all forms of marketing techniques including direct mail marketing. Information from the respondents showed that teenagers involved in smoking were also fully aware of the different types, but also knew about advertisements in magazines, newspapers, special price schemes, and offers for cigarettes. In addition, majority of the smoking teenage population had witnessed advertising on billboards, where more than fifty present of those interviewed had read about some form of cigarette marketing in the press. Also included were advertisements and marketing at point of sales, coupon schemes, and special price offers for cigarettes. Other findings from the research of the 15 year old teenagers revealed that 20 present of the said teenage population had witnessed some form of brand stretching, which included clothing or other items with logos of famous brands of cigarettes, new pack designs, the different and attractive nature and size of the cigarettes, free gifts offered through cigarettes, competitions, and watching famous personalities smoking in films and on television. Though at a lower level, there was awareness on the various promotional mails from cigarette vending industry, distribution of free cigarettes, and to some extent from the network, or the Internet. Thus, it was observed that young smokers were more than fully aware of practically all forms of cigarette marketing techniques including direct mail, in comparison to non-smokers or those who had tried to join the smoking populations. The awareness on the marketing aspect on the part of the teenage populations was more noticeable where free gifts, special price offers, promotional mail, and newer forms of cigarette packs and designs. Marketing of Cigarettes and Role of Teenagers As also stated in the above researched teenage smoking group, there was significant evidence to suggest the involvement and role of teenagers in the marketing of cigarettes including both direct mail and coupon schemes. It was also revealed there was little difference amongst male and female teenagers both of who participated somewhat equally in the marketing of cigarettes. A statistical break-up of the smoking teenager population and the non-smoking teenagers showed that more than fifty present of the smoking populations amongst the teenagers had willingly participated in one or other form of marketing for cigarette companies. In comparison, some 25 present of non-smokers and those who had tried smoking had also participated in some form of marketing for cigarettes. The above research on the teenage smoking population also showed that some 33 present of those interviewed had received free gifts through coupons schemes; another 25 present were in receipt of the special price offers for cigarettes, and a smaller 10 present of the teenage population had received free gifts through direct mail schemes at events organized by the cigarette vending company or received the same through promotional mail schemes. The above findings thus conclusively show that there is a more than strong relationship between awareness of each cigarette marketing technique and current smoking status while variable linked with teenage smoking are held constant. In particular, the awareness of coupon schemes and brand stretching are one way or the other linked to the enhanced probability of the individual being a current smoker, as also with having friends who smoke, siblings, or either parent being smoker. In this study, having friends as smokers was found to be a great influencing factor with the individual being a current smoker. The number of marketing techniques also varied and left a positive mark on the current smoking status and habit of the teenagers interviewed. Hereto, the presence of a close friend, either parent, or siblings was directly associated with an enhanced probability factor for a current smoker. A break up of the different marketing techniques to which the teenage populations are exposed show that package design or price promotion account for a larger exposure, as compared for example brand stretching and shop advertising, the latter of which had little or no effect on the teenage segment of the smoking population. In spite of the above findings, a common factor to emerge was that the young populations was observed to receive some form of benefit, reward, or reassurance from either of the cigarette vending industries; hence a reinforcement of smoking habits, or promotion of smoking amongst the teenage populations. These research more than confirms the need for a stronger set of legislation and laws. The research also calls for an equally tighter set of controls on the marketing techniques adopted by the cigarette vending industries across the United Kingdom. It also proves that the current voluntary form of regulations primarily designed to protect would be smokers, new smokers, and in particular teenage and younger populations are failing, and there is a greater and crucial need for revision of the same. The British Tobacco Advertising and Promotion Bill should be so designed to comprehensively ban some of the most famous forms of marketing such as coupon and brand stretching; the ban should move a step further and outlaw practically all forms and modes of marketing by the cigarette vending industry. Laws, Regulations and Loopholes Exploited by the Cigarette Vending Industry by Marketing/Promotion of Cigarettes This section of the dissertation will address some of the applicable laws and regulations presently levied in the United Kingdom as well as through the directives of the European Union for all member states respectively. It will also take into account the various loopholes and exploiting measures employed by the cigarette vending industry, as they bypass or practically ignore effective regulations to promote the sale of cigarettes, including various forms of direct mail, as also the subject of our above dissertation. One of the first sets of regulations is the European Union Directive98/43/EC, which was duly accepted as a law as of 30th July 1998. Theseus Directive specifically called for minimal tobacco advertising inside the shops. Though the directive contains a summary and overview of the measures and timetable for the implementation of the directive, the salient feature of this directive calls for member government of the European Union including United Kingdom to ban all forms of commercial communication as well as sponsorships, both of which primarily aim actor influence the promotion of tobacco products. An overview of the above said directive shows that though this covers vast area of advertising, and is largely utilized by the cigarette/tobacco vending industry to promote their respective products; the objective of the directive is to bring a halt to the transfer or changeover of promotion techniques used in the marketing of cigarettes. However, the same directive is all too easily exploited through loopholes and exemptions such as those enjoyed by the sellers of tobacco only, marketing at limited point of sales, imported publications, and use of vague language. Brand Stretching One of the areas which perhaps provide as one of the largest loopholes for the cigarette vending industry in their endeavours to market their brand of cigarettes is that of brand stretching. As also discussed in detail in the above present literature reviews and researches, brand stretching is the use of non-tobacco products and services to advertise tobacco and various cigarette brands. These include for example clothes with logos of famous cigarette brands, shoes, and other items, which though are one of the means for marketing; yet in reality they serve to attract the attention of current as well as would be smoker populations alike. This directive is one step short of a total ban on all forms of advertising including such direct mail advertising as utilized by Marlboro Classics, yet it allows governments to exempt advertising where the branding is visibly different from the brand of the cigarette and where advertising is done in good faith without clarifying the actual meaning of the phrase ‘good faith. Thus, we have a loophole duly utilized by the cigarette vending industry in the form of relaxation on such advertising, and use of such phrases as good faith. 3rd Literature Review An Insight into Advertising As One of the Strongest Forms of Direct mail Marketing Strategy Used by the Cigarette Vending Industry Studies carried out by British Governments health S Effectiveness of Direct Mail on Cigarette Vending Industry Effectiveness of Direct Mail on Cigarette Vending Industry The Effectiveness of Direct Mail on the Cigarette Vending Industry in the United Kingdom Irrespective of the mode and methods adopted for marketing, including direct mail, the cigarette vending industry continues to prosper not only in the United Kingdom, but also across the world. At the same time there is a continuous rise in the spread of a number of diseases directly related with smoking including chronic respiratory diseases, cardiovascular diseases and various types of cancers in turn leading to increased death rates amongst the smoking populations. One of the major causes of premature deaths in developing countries, the figures for United Kingdom alone show that approximately 120,000 individuals die every year from diseases directly related to smoking, which is an alarming 20 present of all deaths in a given year. A similar study on smoking also revealed that cancer alone accounts for nearly a third of all deaths from smoking, and another one sixth die from other causes related to smoking. Figures for the younger generation entering the smoking populations of the United Kingdom showed that there was a gradual rise between the years 1988 and 1997,and a somewhat similar rise in the figures amongst adult smoking populations. Marketing departments of cigarette manufacturing companies around the world would least care that an individual smoking cigarette on a regular basis more than doubles the risk of dying before he or she reaches the age of 65. If there is any consolation for these companies adopting various lucrative direct mail strategies for vending and marketing cigarettes, smoking by pregnant women have been found to result in severe repercussions for the foetus as well as new born baby. These include an increased risk of miscarriage, reduced birth weight and potential for prenatal deaths. In similar context, parents who continue to smoke after pregnancy invite increased chances of sudden death syndrome in their infants. The following dissertation will however limit its discussions and studies, and present its findings on the effectiveness of direct mail in the cigarette vending industry of the United Kingdom. (DOH, 1998) Introduction One of the most widely accepted facts and one that has been proven beyond any doubt is that smoking poses a number of health risks. In addition smokers are more than likely to contract certain diseases in comparison to those who do not smoke at all. It is also a fact that smoking is largely accepted as an addictive habit, and with the passage of time, and advances in the study of and implications of smoking alto openly reveal that today it is not merely an addictive habit; on the contrary it is a collection of human behaviours which also includes smoking. It must also be borne in mind that since it is an addiction, and for some indeed a very strong habit, it is wrong to assume that this habit cannot be given up. In fact, there have been numerous cases where individuals have totally given up smoking. It is precisely this line of approach that has made major cigarette manufacturers to print health warning instructions on all their respective packs of cigarettes. Furthermore, majority of the cigarette manufacturing companies around the world, including those of the United Kingdom comply with requisite regulations and legislations with respect of marketing, advertisement and sales of cigarettes. There are also companies, which have their own pack labelling policies, which go beyond the requisite legislation of the respective host country. It is perhaps this lapse, if one may wish to call it, which has allowed majority of cigarette manufacturing companies to guise their marketing, promotion, advertising and selling policies into a philosophy which acknowledges the right of the adult populations to smoke, and consequently respect and protect that particular right. (Pierce et al,1998; Beemer and Siegel, 2000; Safer and Chaloupka, 1999; Anderson etal, 2002; Slade, 2001; Lewis and Littler, 1999) In pursuance of the rights of the smokers, cigarette manufacturing companies also stand against any excessive price regulations and tax measures which are presumably aimed at reducing demand for cigarettes. An independent view of a number of tax and price measures levied by various countries including the United Kingdom reveal that the smoking populations are unduly punished for the pleasure of smoking, and governments largely fail to take into account the huge sums generated from revenues on the various taxes levied on cigarettes. These high rates of taxes levied on cigarettes then results in the illegal and often illicit trade of smuggling cigarettes in turn undermining the legitimate market for cigarette companies running and operating under legal channels of business. A brief on the United Kingdoms cigarette industry reveals that 1 in every 5 cigarettes is smuggled into the country, which adds to a huge20 present of the entire cigarette industry of United Kingdom. In similar context is the call for a ban on the sale of duty free cigarettes, as the primary objective behind the promotion of duty free sale of cigarettes, or for that matter any other product is reduction in illicit trade of that particular item. A ban on the duty free sale of cigarettes would practically jeopardize the regulated duty free retail of that product, and at the same time have a minimal effect on the sale of cigarettes. On the contrary a ban on the duty free sale of cigarettes would simply bring about a shift in the market of cigarettes from a duty free environment to one that is largely controlled by domestic market. Another related aspect of the cigarette vending industry is that of various standards and policies which are aimed at raising awareness about the potential health risks associated with smoking. Trade zones such as those found in European Union for example are ample grounds for such standards and policies to be levied, which in turn allow for uniform results as well as derive common interests amongst the respective countries. The non-smoking segment of the populations is yet another vital area of focus for cigarette manufacturing companies. As also a public health issue, the non-smokers are prone to, and thus demand protective measures from passive smoking. In this respect, there exist two schools of thought; one that disregards any findings and conclusions, which present cigarette smoke as a potential health hazard for non-smokers. This group though acknowledges that cigarette smoke is indeed a source of annoyance as well as one of the causes of environmental pollution. Yet, they also call for an approach based on simple logic and common sense and co-operation. While the second school of thought, such as M/Gallaher, one of the major cigarette manufacturing and marketing companies in the UK, contend that government initiatives including the â€Å"Air Quality program are viable and productive programs to address vital public smoking issues. Literature Reviews There have a number of writings and case studies, which prove the effectiveness of direct mail on the cigarette vending industry,. These writings and studies have convincingly proven that direct mail has had positive affect and its influences have directly contributed to the rise in cigarette sales, in turn promoting the cigarette vending industry in general. Thus, it would not be wrong to state, as also proven from the following case studies, that the direct mail strategy in the cigarette vending industry has proven to affect smoking initiation as well as consumption. A brief historical perspective also reveals that cigarette manufacturing companies the world over have significantly changed their focus from the traditional advertising tithe use of techniques which emphasize on developing as well as maintaining a relationship with individual customers. Direct mail through direct communication thus offers cigarette-vending industry source of generating sales including obtaining measurable response in related areas of marketing. (Pierce et al, 1998; Beemer and Siegel,2000; Safer and Chaloupka, 1999; Anderson et al, 2002; Slade, 2001;Lewis and Littler, 1999) One of the most effective techniques, and perhaps one of the oldest as well, is that of utilizing mailing list of individuals maintained by major and minor cigarette vending companies alike. It is this list of individuals or customers, which serves as the potential for direct mail for cigarette vending industry. This list is also used for the distribution of coupons, sweepstakes offers, and brand-loyalty programme catalogues. Also included in the items distributed through direct mail are event announcements sponsored by the cigarette vending industry, and magazines published by major tobacco manufacturing companies. Practically all these items which are sent to individuals using the direct mail system contain activities and feature images which serve a two-fold purpose. First, these promotional items are designed in such a manner to make emotional appeals to customers. Second, they serve to strengthen, rather reinforce the existing images of the various brands of cigarettes in the market. There are different modes of collecting such list of individuals, which includes events that are sponsored by the cigarette industry, sweepstake forms, signed coupons as well as brand-loyalty program orders. These listings more often than not include some form of a response mechanism, which invites recipients to fill out surveys for example, or mention their lifestyle preferences. A statistic covering the US cigarette industry with particular reference to the role of direct mail reveals that there has been general rising trend in the use of direct mail in the United States. Brief on the 6 largest US cigarette manufacturers showed that they collectively spend a staggering amount of US 133.9 million dollars on direct mail in 2001. This was an increase of 131.8 present from the figures of 1998. One may note that these huge figures do not include sums spent on coupons or specialty items distributed through the mail system. (USFTC, 2002) A survey carried out by a team of doctors at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, in the United States provided for results which convincingly proved that direct mail in the cigarette vending industry not only enhanced initiation, but effectively raised the chances for potential smokers. This survey comprised of some 3900adults, and primarily focused on the answer to 3 questions. (University of Medicine and Dentistry NJ, 2002; SUDAAN, 2001) Questionnaire for the Survey Did any of the participant receive direct mail from a tobacco company within the last 6 months, including magazines, coupons, or catalogues. Did any of the participants use a coupon to buy cigarettes. Did any of the participants save any UPC codes, or tokens from any brand-loyalty programmes of a tobacco manufacturer. Results of the Survey The results of the above questionnaire from the selected adult participants showed that the current range of smoking populations were4 to 5 times more likely to have received direct mail within the past 6months as compared to those who had never smoked before or were belonged to the former smoking community. Second, the survey showed that smokers who had quit smoking in the last 12 months were 2 to 4 times more likely to receive direct mail as compared to those who had never smoked or those who belonged to the former smoking community. The survey also revealed that the white populations as compared to other groups of populations topped the list of individuals receiving direct mail offers for cigarettes or related material in aid of marketing for a given brand of cigarette. The use of coupons was found to be the highest amongst the female smoking community, white adults as well as those falling within the age group of 25 and 64 years. Similarly, saving for programs such as brand-reward programs was also found to be highest amongst current population of smokers, white segment of the population as well as the those falling within the age bracket of 18 and 24 years. Discussion on the Findings and Literature Review The above findings significantly provided evidence that direct mail served to increase the consumption of cigarettes, and subsequently ‘impede cessation. The said survey also found that coupons delivered through the direct mail to individuals were originally designed to bring about a reduction in prices of cigarettes, as well as simultaneously offset the impact of rise in taxes and other control measures levied by respective authorities. It was also found that programs offered through direct mail, such as brand-loyalty programs were intended to reward and encourage smokers through offer for additional purchases. The survey also revealed that direct mail marketing for cigarettes was originally designed to restrict switching of brands amongst customers. However, this strategy was only cover-up, and instead such direct mail offers allowed and in fact assisted smokers to continue smoking. The above literature review and survey on the role of direct mail on the cigarette vending industry shows numerous legislations, public campaigns against smoking, proven addictive behaviours resulting in serious health repercussions and rising awareness levels against thrill effects of smoking all have somewhat forced cigarette manufacturing companies the world over to adopt direct mail strategies. These direct mail strategies not only provide smokers with appealing and inviting messages; they move a step further and offer rewards for smoking. Direct mail also offers an excellent mode of communicating directly with customers, which is all too easily disguised and more than hidden from the piercing scrutiny of the public health community. It is also an effective strategy against rising restrictions on the different and traditional modes of advertising. In this respect a direct mail marketing plan of the world renowned Philip Morris also notes that direct mail is indeed one of the infl uencing factors in the use and consumption of cigarettes. (Slade, 2001; Strategic Plan, 1995) The above literature review and survey also reveals though direct mail is only one of the many marketing techniques adopted by cigarette vending industry, it is undoubtedly one which is witnessing continuous growth pattern, and one that is likely to grow in the future as well. The use of direct mail strategy is all the more worthy of concern as the cigarette vending industry is witnessed to continually change its marketing strategies in response to rising set of legislations and public opinion. It also a proven fact that practically all those involved in cigarette vending industry pursue a marketing strategy with a singular objective; one which aims to encourage initiation and consumption in smoking cigarettes. To curb such efforts, and to bring about a control for restricting such marketing strategies including direct mail, there is an ever-demanding need to fully comprehend marketing tactics utilized by cigarette vending industry. Included in these efforts is removal of the names of the individuals from the list maintained by cigarette vending industry by the smokers themselves as they decide to quit smoking. The exposure of probable intent on the part of cigarette vending industry and possible effects of such direct mail strategies along with measures, which serve as potential triggers, such as the presence of ashtrays, should also be taken into account. (Fiore et al, 2000; King, 2001) 2nd Literature Review In continuation with our dissertation on the effectiveness of direct mail on the cigarette vending industry, yet another research carried out by Lynn McFadden of the University of Strathclyde and published in the British Medical Journal issue of March 2001 is presented here. This research uncovers young peoples awareness about marketing strategies adopted by cigarette vending industry and their involvement and association with their smoking behaviours. One of the most successful methods of direct mail marketing is one, which is carried out at the point of sale. It is the venue of point of sale where a number of cigarette vending industrialists tend to focus, as also evident in the research findings of the University of Strathclyde. The research comprised of some 629 young people, aged between the ages of 15 and 16, and all of who had opted to be a part of the research through a postal consent procedure. The focus of the research, as also stated in the preceding lines waste examination of young peoples awareness of and involvement with cigarette marketing. The research also sought to determine the level of association, if any, amongst the group of young people between the level of awareness and the their smoking behaviours. The overall findings of the above research comprising of young people revealed an extra-ordinary high level of awareness and equally high levels of involvement of young people in the marketing strategies of cigarette vending industry. Out of the 629 participants involved in the research, some 95 present of them were more than aware of the various advertising techniques utilized by the cigarette vending industry, as also aware of the various methods utilized in the point of sale marketing. Thus, both the aspects, those of awareness and involvement with cigarette vending industry were strongly found to be related with being a smoker. This was more than proven from the statistics derived in the said research. For example out of the group of some 185 participants, 55 or a huge 30 present of the research participants admitted that they had received free gifts through coupons attached with the cigarette packs. A comparison with non-smoking community showed that only 11 present or 21 out of 199 participants had received fee gifts through coupons in the cigarette packs. Furthermore, it was also revealed in the same set of researches that aside from the awareness element about coupon schemes, participates were also equally aware about brand stretching and tobacco marketing, all of which were linked in some way or the other with their smoking habits. (DOH, 1992;Atiken et al, 1987; Led with, 1984; Charlton et al, 1997; Altman et al,1996; Aitken et al, 1991) The above research thus concluded the young populations aged 15 and16 were not only fully aware on the various aspects of cigarette marketing including direct mail and marketing at the point of sales; they were also more than associated with the different cigarette vending industries in the marketing of cigarettes and both the awareness and involvement in the marketing were linked with their smoking status and habits. These findings also called for a more stringent set of statutory legislations, as compared to the otherwise voluntary regulations which are primarily designed to protect these teenagers, and which have become somewhat ineffective. Other findings from the above carried out researches revealed and established the fact that the role of the mass media in advertising encouraged smoking amongst the younger populations. From a purely economics perspective, the same findings showed that expenditure on advertising pointed towards an increase in the prevalence, while a drop in the expenditures on advertising resulted in the subsequent drop in the prevalence of cigarette consumption, thereby proving a direct relationship between advertising and consumption of cigarettes. These studies focusing on the younger population showed that teenagers smoking cigarettes are more likely to appreciate as also be aware of the tobacco and cigarette advertising related sponsorships, merchandising and vending. In line with such studies, other cohort studies on the same segment of teenage smoking populations resulted in similar results and furthermore predicted a tendency of future smoking behaviours amongst the researched populations. (DOH, 1992; Aitken et al,1987; Led with, 1984; Charlton et al, 1997; Altman et al, 1996; Aitken al, 1991) A similar experiment involving some 2400 teenagers all aged a 15years, yet only differentiated by sex and postal addresses were taken for a research project from an area in the North of England. These teenagers were invited to participate in the research programme after due consent from their parents/guardians with the primary objective of deriving some 280 smokers from the total lot of participants. With response rate of more than 48 present, some 1062 responded to the call for invitation and studies carried out from the set of questionnaires mailed to each participant along with the consent form. The results obtained from the 1062 participant teenagers (all aged15 years) showed that one in every 5 teenager was involved in smoking,214 teenagers or 20 present of the respondents were regular smokers,825 or a huge 78 present not regular smokers, while 23 respondents or 2percent of the total respondents declined to divulge their smoking status. In continuation with the studies on the teenage smoking population, a random number of 373 respondents were gradually removed from the research list, as they were not regular smokers. The removal of these selected respondents further narrowed the research to those who were in the habit of, or were involved in smoking cigarettes. The number of respondents was now brought down from 1062, as also stated in the opening lines of these paragraphs, to 686 candidates only. These 686 teenage candidates were then interviewed through a team of professional interviewers, who were in turn instructed to make at least4 clear attempts to gain positive research results. The interviewers were not given any prior information as the status of smoking habits of the interviewed candidates so as to derive a transparent set of findings. Here too, the permission of the parents/guardians was sought prior to the interview, as well as a 5-Pound gift voucher was also handed to each candidate. In carrying out the above research 629 out of the total 686respondents were successfully interviewed. Those who were left out did so due to the passage of time, as by the time the research was concluded, the respondents had entered their 16th year, whereas the entire team of research candidates belonged to the 15 year old age bracket only. Each of the candidates was given two sets of questionnaires; one included a face to face interview with the teenage candidate, while the candidate in the presence of their guardians/parents filled out the second questionnaire. One may note that there was no influence of the parents presence on the part of the respondent teenagers. Each of the questionnaires resulted in the awareness, as well as the involvement of the candidates with the different techniques used in the marketing by the cigarette vending industry including direct mail marketing. The findings of the research revealed the smoking habits/status of the teenage candidates, their future intentions for smoking, education levels, and smoking by their peers, siblings, and whether their parents smoked or not. (DOH, 1992;Atiken et al, 1987; Led with, 1984; Charlton et al, 1997; Altman et al,1996; Aitken et al, 1991) A detailed analysis of the awareness element of the teenage group interviewed showed that in comparison to the non-smoking teenage population, those who smoked cigarettes were more than aware of practically all forms of marketing techniques including direct mail marketing. Information from the respondents showed that teenagers involved in smoking were also fully aware of the different types, but also knew about advertisements in magazines, newspapers, special price schemes, and offers for cigarettes. In addition, majority of the smoking teenage population had witnessed advertising on billboards, where more than fifty present of those interviewed had read about some form of cigarette marketing in the press. Also included were advertisements and marketing at point of sales, coupon schemes, and special price offers for cigarettes. Other findings from the research of the 15 year old teenagers revealed that 20 present of the said teenage population had witnessed some form of brand stretching, which included clothing or other items with logos of famous brands of cigarettes, new pack designs, the different and attractive nature and size of the cigarettes, free gifts offered through cigarettes, competitions, and watching famous personalities smoking in films and on television. Though at a lower level, there was awareness on the various promotional mails from cigarette vending industry, distribution of free cigarettes, and to some extent from the network, or the Internet. Thus, it was observed that young smokers were more than fully aware of practically all forms of cigarette marketing techniques including direct mail, in comparison to non-smokers or those who had tried to join the smoking populations. The awareness on the marketing aspect on the part of the teenage populations was more noticeable where free gifts, special price offers, promotional mail, and newer forms of cigarette packs and designs. Marketing of Cigarettes and Role of Teenagers As also stated in the above researched teenage smoking group, there was significant evidence to suggest the involvement and role of teenagers in the marketing of cigarettes including both direct mail and coupon schemes. It was also revealed there was little difference amongst male and female teenagers both of who participated somewhat equally in the marketing of cigarettes. A statistical break-up of the smoking teenager population and the non-smoking teenagers showed that more than fifty present of the smoking populations amongst the teenagers had willingly participated in one or other form of marketing for cigarette companies. In comparison, some 25 present of non-smokers and those who had tried smoking had also participated in some form of marketing for cigarettes. The above research on the teenage smoking population also showed that some 33 present of those interviewed had received free gifts through coupons schemes; another 25 present were in receipt of the special price offers for cigarettes, and a smaller 10 present of the teenage population had received free gifts through direct mail schemes at events organized by the cigarette vending company or received the same through promotional mail schemes. The above findings thus conclusively show that there is a more than strong relationship between awareness of each cigarette marketing technique and current smoking status while variable linked with teenage smoking are held constant. In particular, the awareness of coupon schemes and brand stretching are one way or the other linked to the enhanced probability of the individual being a current smoker, as also with having friends who smoke, siblings, or either parent being smoker. In this study, having friends as smokers was found to be a great influencing factor with the individual being a current smoker. The number of marketing techniques also varied and left a positive mark on the current smoking status and habit of the teenagers interviewed. Hereto, the presence of a close friend, either parent, or siblings was directly associated with an enhanced probability factor for a current smoker. A break up of the different marketing techniques to which the teenage populations are exposed show that package design or price promotion account for a larger exposure, as compared for example brand stretching and shop advertising, the latter of which had little or no effect on the teenage segment of the smoking population. In spite of the above findings, a common factor to emerge was that the young populations was observed to receive some form of benefit, reward, or reassurance from either of the cigarette vending industries; hence a reinforcement of smoking habits, or promotion of smoking amongst the teenage populations. These research more than confirms the need for a stronger set of legislation and laws. The research also calls for an equally tighter set of controls on the marketing techniques adopted by the cigarette vending industries across the United Kingdom. It also proves that the current voluntary form of regulations primarily designed to protect would be smokers, new smokers, and in particular teenage and younger populations are failing, and there is a greater and crucial need for revision of the same. The British Tobacco Advertising and Promotion Bill should be so designed to comprehensively ban some of the most famous forms of marketing such as coupon and brand stretching; the ban should move a step further and outlaw practically all forms and modes of marketing by the cigarette vending industry. Laws, Regulations and Loopholes Exploited by the Cigarette Vending Industry by Marketing/Promotion of Cigarettes This section of the dissertation will address some of the applicable laws and regulations presently levied in the United Kingdom as well as through the directives of the European Union for all member states respectively. It will also take into account the various loopholes and exploiting measures employed by the cigarette vending industry, as they bypass or practically ignore effective regulations to promote the sale of cigarettes, including various forms of direct mail, as also the subject of our above dissertation. One of the first sets of regulations is the European Union Directive98/43/EC, which was duly accepted as a law as of 30th July 1998. Theseus Directive specifically called for minimal tobacco advertising inside the shops. Though the directive contains a summary and overview of the measures and timetable for the implementation of the directive, the salient feature of this directive calls for member government of the European Union including United Kingdom to ban all forms of commercial communication as well as sponsorships, both of which primarily aim actor influence the promotion of tobacco products. An overview of the above said directive shows that though this covers vast area of advertising, and is largely utilized by the cigarette/tobacco vending industry to promote their respective products; the objective of the directive is to bring a halt to the transfer or changeover of promotion techniques used in the marketing of cigarettes. However, the same directive is all too easily exploited through loopholes and exemptions such as those enjoyed by the sellers of tobacco only, marketing at limited point of sales, imported publications, and use of vague language. Brand Stretching One of the areas which perhaps provide as one of the largest loopholes for the cigarette vending industry in their endeavours to market their brand of cigarettes is that of brand stretching. As also discussed in detail in the above present literature reviews and researches, brand stretching is the use of non-tobacco products and services to advertise tobacco and various cigarette brands. These include for example clothes with logos of famous cigarette brands, shoes, and other items, which though are one of the means for marketing; yet in reality they serve to attract the attention of current as well as would be smoker populations alike. This directive is one step short of a total ban on all forms of advertising including such direct mail advertising as utilized by Marlboro Classics, yet it allows governments to exempt advertising where the branding is visibly different from the brand of the cigarette and where advertising is done in good faith without clarifying the actual meaning of the phrase ‘good faith. Thus, we have a loophole duly utilized by the cigarette vending industry in the form of relaxation on such advertising, and use of such phrases as good faith. 3rd Literature Review An Insight into Advertising As One of the Strongest Forms of Direct mail Marketing Strategy Used by the Cigarette Vending Industry Studies carried out by British Governments health S