Tobacco.org

Industry Documents Expose Nordic Tobacco Companies' Conspiratorial Behavior  

In the 1970s, Nordic countries were among the first to adopt policies against tobacco, like bans on cigarette advertising, health warning labels and smoke-free laws, but U.S.-owned tobacco companies, and particularly Philip Morris, makers of Marlboro, became concerned such polices could spread to America and other developed countries where they sold cigarettes. Also, Europe's first product liability case against the tobacco industry occurred in Finland in 1988, when a smoker sued several companies claiming their products caused his illness, causing even more concern for global tobacco companies. To help escape product liability claims, Nordic tobacco companies -- like Amer Tobacco and Rettig, which distributed Philip Morris and R.J. Reynolds brands, respectively -- long claimed to be ignorant of, and denied participation in the multinational tobacco companies' global strategies to undermine anti-tobacco policies, but industry documents reveal the truth -- that smaller Nordic tobacco companies did, in fact, participate in the multinational companies’ long-time conspiracy to deny the health dangers of smoking and undermine anti-tobacco policies, helping delay key effective tobacco control measures, and particularly smoke-free laws, for years.

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• Norway may ban smoking during work  

Employers in Norway are likely to ban smoking for employees during work hours, says Minister of Health Anne-Grethe Strom-Erichsen.

Tighter restrictions on smoking were discussed during a hearing in Norway's Parliament Friday, the Norway Post reported.

Strom-Erichsen said the sale of 10-packs of cigarettes is likely to be banned. The government is also considering legislation that would ban students from smoking during school hours and make all entrances of public buildings smoke-free, Strom-Erichsen said.

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Local Nordic tobacco interests collaborated with multinational companies to maintain a united front and undermine tobacco control policies  

Conclusions

Local tobacco companies worked with multinational companies to undermine tobacco control in distant and small Nordic markets because of concern that pioneering policies initiated in Nordic countries would spread to bigger market areas. Claims by the local Nordic companies that they were not actively involved with the multinationals are not supported by the facts. These results also demonstrate that the industry appreciates the global importance of both positive and negative public health precedents in tobacco control.

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• Government on anti-smoking offensive  

Public health officials launched an aggressive campaign, Tuesday, aimed at stamping out smoking in Norway.

Today’s move, called “Time to quit?” (“På tide å slutte?”), is designed to prevent smoking’s 5,100 annual deaths. The government has set aside 19 million kroner to spend on the previously unconfirmed campaign.

Norwegian Directorate of Health Director Bjørn-Inge Larsen states he is tasked with ensuring young people today are the smoke-free generations of tomorrow, whilst motivating and helping current smokers to stop.

“The campaign’s core message is that quitting smoking is good, and help is available,” he says.

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• Local Nordic tobacco interests collaborated with multinational companies to maintain a united front and undermine tobacco control policies [FREE FULL TEXT] 

Implications for the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control

Article 20 of WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control commits parties to promote and facilitate the exchange of information regarding practices of the tobacco industry.193 In implementing this requirement, it is essential for parties to focus on the operations of the multinational companies and on local tobacco companies and their organisations. Local companies may claim ignorance of multinational companies' strategies to undermine tobacco control while implementing those strategies secretly. . . .

Conclusions

Global tobacco control is contingent on diffusion of policy innovations and more comprehensive tobacco control policies. Local tobacco companies in the Nordic countries participated in the multinational companies' conspiracy to deny health dangers of smoking and oppose tobacco control measures because of the direct effects in Nordic countries and because of concern that such policies would spread to other countries. They worked individually and through NMAs with multinational companies to undermine tobacco control. As a result, tobacco control measures, particularly smoke-free laws, were delayed for several years. The local tobacco companies have publicly claimed ignorance of multinational tobacco company strategies while in fact they are implementing them vigorously. These experiences emphasise the importance for both sides of the debate of setting and defending precedents in tobacco control. They also demonstrate that in local debates over Framework Convention on Tobacco Control implementation, public health advocates and government officials cannot trust assertions by local tobacco companies that they are simply representing local interests, not those of the multinational tobacco companies.

What this paper adds

Tobacco companies and national manufacturer associations in Nordic countries have claimed that they have not been part of multinational tobacco companies' strategies to deny health hazards of smoking and undermine tobacco control as part of a successful effort to avoid liability for tobacco-induced disease and to oppose tobacco control policies.

Multinational tobacco companies engaged local tobacco companies in the Nordic countries to ensure a uniform position in denying health dangers of smoking and opposing tobacco control measures because of the direct effects in Nordic countries and because of concern that such policies would spread to other countries. The Nordic experience demonstrates the importance of setting and defending both good and bad precedents in tobacco control for both sides of the debate. It also demonstrates that in local debates over Framework Convention on Tobacco Control implementation, public health advocates and government officials cannot trust assertions by local tobacco companies that they are simply representing local interests, not those of the multinational tobacco companies.

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Local Nordic tobacco interests collaborated with multinational companies to maintain a united front and undermine tobacco control policies  

Objective

To analyse how local tobacco companies in the Nordic countries, individually and through National Manufacturers' Associations, cooperated with British American Tobacco and Philip Morris in denying the health hazards of smoking and undermining tobacco control.

Methods

Analysis of tobacco control policies in the Nordic countries and tobacco industry documents.

Results

Nordic countries were early adopters of tobacco control policies. The multinational tobacco companies recognised this fact and mobilised to oppose these policies, in part because of fear that they would set unfavourable precedents. Since at least 1972, the Nordic tobacco companies were well informed about and willing to participate in the multinational companies activities to obscure the health dangers of smoking and secondhand smoke and to oppose tobacco control policies. Cooperation between multinational companies, Nordic national manufacturer associations and local companies ensured a united front on smoking and health issues in the Nordic area that was consistent with the positions that the multinational companies were taking. This cooperation delayed smoke-free laws and undermined other tobacco control measures.

Conclusions

Local tobacco companies worked with multinational companies to undermine tobacco control in distant and small Nordic markets because of concern that pioneering policies initiated in Nordic countries would spread to bigger market areas. Claims by the local Nordic companies that they were not actively involved with the multinationals are not supported by the facts. These results also demonstrate that the industry appreciates the global importance of both positive and negative public health precedents in tobacco control.

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Norwegian officials threaten smokers  

Staff and students in Nordland County could face disciplinary action if they smoke or use ‘snus’ at work and school.

“Several breaches [of regulations] could, at worst, lead to pupils getting lower marks or orderliness. Employees will receive a verbal or written reprimand, and may ultimately lead to a so-called ‘personnel matter’,” says Gjert-Henrik Vedeler, local Norwegian Cancer Society advisor and consultative group leader.

Over 3,000 employees and 9,000 students could be affected by the ban as early as the beginning of 2012 should politicians vote in favour of the body’s recommendations.

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• Norwegian companies’ smoking ban fails  

Many Norwegian companies have tried to ban smoking but it has been relatively unsuccessful.

Alta municipality attempted to ban smoking on municipal property but had to drop the rule after only 11 months. Several other municipalities also tried to introduce the measure, but with varying degrees of success.

Aftenposten reports Levanger officials had to tone a ban down following employees complaints it breached Article 13 of the European Convention on Human Rights.

“Everyone whose rights and freedoms as set forth in this Convention are violated shall have an effective remedy before a national authority notwithstanding that the violation has been committed by persons acting in an official capacity,” it states.

In other Scandinavian countries, Danish companies have been more draconian, however, ordering workers who smoke to make up time.

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• Distal and proximal family predictors of adolescents' smoking initiation and development. a longitudinal latent curve model analysis 

Background

Studies on adolescent smoking indicate that the smoking behaviours of their parents, siblings and friends are significant micro-level predictors. Parents' socioeconomic status (SES) is an important macro-level predictor. We examined the longitudinal relationships between these predictors and the initiation and development of adolescents' smoking behaviour in Norway. . . .

Conclusions

Parents' SES was significantly associated, directly and indirectly, with both smoking initiation and development. Parental and older siblings' smoking behaviours were positively associated with both initiation and development of smoking behaviour in adolescents. There were no significant gender differences in these associations.

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• Norway anti-smoking debate puffs along 

Last week’s proposal, leaked by Dagsavisen before Minister of Health and Care Services Anne-Grete Strøm-Erichsen had even so much issued a statement, called for abolishing smoking in outside serving areas, educational and medical establishments, and entrances to public buildings.

The ‘smoke-free Norway’ minister’s measures add to an already restrictive practise of a ban on indoor smoking, tightened sales controls, and other proposals to further curb young peoples’ access to tobacco products.

Tobacco giant Philip Morris is suing the Norwegian state under EEA anti-competition laws

Anti-smoker Dagfinn Høybråten, leader of the Christian Democrats (KrF) who successfully introduced current Norwegian legislation, agrees smoking should be banned to eliminate children being at risk from passive smoking. However, he kicks the threatened anti-smoking extension for going too far.

“The Tobacco Law applies indoors and not outside. I’m sceptical to banning smoking in outdoor serving areas. There is a choice to go inside, after all,” he said.

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Recently released market study: Cigars in Norway 

In general, there is not a strong tradition of smoking cigars and cigarillos in Norway, and smokers seem to prefer other tobacco products such as Swedish-style snus, smoking tobacco, and cigarettes. Cigars are consumed primarily by older men. Although producers have tried, they have failed to attract new customers through the launch of new products such as flavoured cigars for women. In 2010, Swedish-style snus was available in many flavours and types, offering the same variety as cigars. Snuff...

Euromonitor International's Cigars in Norway report offers a comprehensive guide to the size and shape of the market at a national level. It provides the latest retail sales data 2006-2010, allowing you to identify the sectors driving growth. It identifies the leading companies, the leading brands and offers strategic analysis of key factors influencing the market - be the new legislative, distribution or pricing issues. Forecasts to 2015 illustrate how the market is set to change.

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• Norway cigarette-display ban may set precedent  

A Norwegian law banning cigarette displays in stores could set an international precedent when a legal challenge by tobacco giant Philip Morris resumes in December, a Norwegian newspaper said.

Government attorney Kjetil Boe Moen said Norway's law requiring most stores to hide their cigarettes remained strong after an ambiguous opinion two weeks ago by a European Free Trade Association (EFTA) court, newspaper Nationen said on Tuesday.

Philip Morris has sued Norway's Ministry of Health and Care Services in the Oslo District Court, claiming the 2009 prohibition violates free trade principles that bind Norway as a member of the European Economic Area (EEA).

As part of the case, the Oslo court asked the EFTA court for an advisory ruling that was issued on Sept. 12.

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Stigma, or sort of cool 

The aim of this article is to explore young adult smokers' constructions of identity, as revealed in accounts of their smoking experiences. A qualitative study was conducted in which interviews were held with 21 male and female smokers aged 18-23. The data were analyzed based on principles from a social constructivist approach to grounded theory, acknowledging the role of language and discourse in the construction of reality. Three key identities were read out of the interviewees' accounts: 1) the performative smoker, a construction related mainly to smoking initiation; 2) the defensive smoker; and, 3) the negotiating smoker. The smoker identities constructed by young adult smokers in this study appear to be characterized by considerable contradiction: a 'split vision' between classical positive meanings of smoking as a symbol of freedom, courage and individuality together with conflicting yet parallel meanings positioned by a strong discourse of smoking as stigmatized, immoral and undistinguished.

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Wants 20-year age limit on tobacco 

The Norwegian Department of Health wants to raise the age limit for purchasing tobacco to 20 years. It also suggests a ban on company logos on cigarette and tobacco packages.

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• Expectancies and Intentions to Use Snus Among Norwegian First-Year Students [FREE FULL TEXT] 

Introduction: The prevalence of use of snus (low-nitrosamine smokeless tobacco, Swedish type) has reached epidemic proportions in parts of Northern Europe, and the trend is escalating. Knowledge of variables influencing use of snus is scarce, and this study set out to explore expectancies related to the use of snus as possible determinants of intentions to use snus in the next 6 months.

Methods: The data stem from a questionnaire survey among university students in 2004 and included 141 snus users (mean age = 20.9 years, SD = 2.1). Thirteen items derived from a study by Juliano & Brandon (2004) were adapted to the use of snus, and a confirmatory factor analysis was conducted. The predictive power of expectancies on snus intentions and behavioral experience on intentions were examined using structural equation modeling.

Results: Five meaningful and interpretable expectancy factors were confirmed by the factor analysis: “negative affect,” “weight control,” “health risks,” “quitting smoking facilitation,” and “craving reduction.” “Health risks” turned out to be the only expectancy factor that significantly predicted intentions to use snus. In addition, “current snus behavior” had a significant direct effect on intentions. Altogether, the model explained 27% of the variance in intentions.

Conclusions: The findings suggest that expectancies of snus use can be applied to understand intentions to use snus. However, the range of expectancy items should preferably be broadened in future studies, and more attention should be paid to the inclusion of groups that differs in nicotine experience.

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