Jump to full article: All-Africa.com, 2009-06-17
Author: Dan Marlone
Intro: The tobacco industry has cleverly gone beyond a merely defensive cam-Marlboro Man: From the Wild campaign to one which is positive and West to the Far East pro-cigarettes.
Other industry tactics include creating doubt without actually denying medical evidence linking smoking and cancer, philanthropy to buy friends and social respectability, and using trade agreements, bribery and lobbying to force entry into closed markets.
The tobacco industry has also used its slick promotional skills to perfect a "customised" approach to marketing products and brands by identifying and "hunting" segments of population, including the women, teens and children of the developing world.
Unfortunately, many developing countries provide a conducive atmosphere for tobacco companies to test their latest insidious tactics to get around strict legislation in developed countries. . . .
In Uganda, while still waiting for the National Environment Management Authority and the Police to enforce the Control of Smoking in Public Places legislation enacted in 2004, the vulnerable tobacco consumer needs to have an overview of the tobacco industry tactics and their corresponding goals -
- Intelligence Gathering - Monitor opponents and social trends to anticipate future challenges
- Public Relations - Mold public opinion using the media to promote pro-industry positions
- Political Funding - Use donations to win votes and legislative favours from politicians
- Lobbying - Cut deals and influence political process
- Consultancy Programmes - Produce "independent" experts critical of tobacco control measures
- Smokers' Rights Groups - Create impressions of spontaneous, grassroots public support
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