On Fri, 30 Mar 2001, dmolnar wrote:
I walked into the local 7-11 today. There was a scanner there and a man next to it offering a free pack of cigarettes if he could scan your drivers' license or other form of photo ID *and* you are an adult smoker.
When I asked what this was all about, he told me that Phillip Morris is trying to "update their ID database." Various promotional material was present as well, but I didn't read any of it.
Does anyone know more about this? Does Phillip Morris have an ID database, and how often do they update it?
As I understand it, things like this are part of the Great Big Settlement the tobacco corps made with a whole lot of Attorneys General (30-some-odd states, IIRC). Every few months, PM sends me a big pack of coupons (usually in the $5-$10 off a carton range) and asks for a fresh copy of my ID. Brown & Williamson does the same thing. Also, if you find a bar/nightclub that's hosting an event sponsored by one of those same corps, they usually have a scanner or copier present as well, with similar gimmicks (give us a Xerox of your ID, get free stuff). Thus far, the only things that have come from it is an increase in *weird* junk mail (Marlboro's sponsoring some kind of nationwide chili cook-off, so they sent me a spoon) and cigarette coupons. The standard "having your name in a database" caveats apply, though PM at least seems mostly interested in verifying that you're over 21. (All the paper forms I've seen expressly tell you to blackout your SSN/DL.) ...dave