In 1964, the Federal Trade Commission required all tobacco products’ packaging to bear the “Surgeon General’s Warning” which informs consumers of the dangers of smoking. This was just the beginning on the war against smoking and surprisingly, it’s the little players that have scored the biggest.

The Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) was founded by John F. Banzhaf III in 1967. The non-profit organization is made up of professionals in the legal and medical field as well as concerned citizens who wish to see a definite change in the way society and the law views smoking.

Despite the fact that ASH is a small organization compared to other health organizations fighting for the same cause, they have no ties to the government and have not received a penny of tobacco settlement. This makes this small, yet powerful organization a force to be reckoned with. In the 40 years of its existence, ASH has represented the rights of non-smokers effectively by using the law to push for better legislation against smoking.