Turkey: Upping up the Anti Turkey, Strategically Placed Between Europe and Asia, Is Understandably Seen by Tobacco Companies As a Key Market
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Tobacco Control 2003;12:245–250 Tob Control: first published as 10.1136/tc.12.3.246-a on 4 September 2003. Downloaded from Newsanalysis................................................................................ Turkey: upping up the anti Turkey, strategically placed between Europe and Asia, is understandably seen by tobacco companies as a key market. The struggle to obtain com- prehensive tobacco control legislation has been long and strewn with set- backs, as frequently reported in these pages (see Tobacco Control 2001;10:208). As with any legislation passed without a strong, cabinet-wide commitment to effective action on tobacco, there are limited resources, and more than a hint of limited enthusiasm, for monitoring and en- forcing the law. Blatant tobacco indus- try lobbying and promotional efforts aimed at establishing Formula 1 (F1) motor racing, in a country with no popular interest in motor sport, have now gone underground. However, In Turkey, overt tobacco promotion is still very evident, as illustrated by this Gitanes ad above there are frequent signs that tobacco a street sign to a bar. interests are still actively pushing for the establishment of motor racing as a handy means of mass cigarette promo- course already planning to take on Meanwhile, the newly inspired tion in the region, and it seems other tobacco issues in their regions. medical activists have been monitor- inevitable that a tobacco friendly F1 or Evidence of their new activities soon ing tobacco promotion, all of which is equivalent race will come to Turkey began to accumulate. In Ankara itself, now supposed to be illegal. Even http://tobaccocontrol.bmj.com/ within a few years. meetings were arranged with parlia- before the end of the Ankara course, Meanwhile, the government has mentarians and national medical or- students spotted a nearby Gitanes ad continued to dither over the sale of ganisations, to press the government on a street sign to a bar, and arrange- Tekel, the tobacco monopoly. Govern- over the Tekel sale. In Mersin, on the ments were made to pursue this with ment and parliamentary sources have Mediterranean coast, a one hour live the authorities. In Bursa, in the west of indicated desperate lobbying by Brit- television programme was arranged; a the country, several child friendly ish American Tobacco (BAT) and oth- training workshop was held for local items were located which were more ers, some of it apparently involving doctors; and a stand was taken in the difficult to deal with, as they had not conditions for a takeover that would centre of the city with a “death clock”, necessarily come from tobacco compa- effectively break the tobacco law. No to begin the long task of educating the nies themselves. Instead, they were wonder, then, that doctors, always at public. In Trabzon, on the Black sea classic examples of the goodwill of the forefront of the campaign in coast, doctors went public with a major individual cigarette brands being so on September 24, 2021 by guest. Protected copyright. Turkey, have been trying to expand campaign, including a smoking cessa- great, and the social acceptability of their activities, taking tobacco control tion booth at a local health fair. smoking being so widespread, that to the regions and stepping up pres- manufacturers of other goods imitate sure to promote tobacco control to a cigarette brand characteristics to fully recognised national health prior- ity. Earlier this year, more than two dozen doctors took part in a week long training course in Ankara. Many were clinicians in charge of smoking cessa- tion clinics in their hospitals and health centres. At least, they were when they arrived; but many left the All articles written by David Simpson unless otherwise attributed. Ideas and items for News Analysis should be sent to David Simp- Some tobacco promotion in Turkey is son at the address given on the inside front complex, even unintended, as in this child’s cover jigsaw featuring the Marlboro logo, but with The “death clock”, used to educate the a small change to the name. Turkish public about the dangers of smoking. www.tobaccocontrol.com 246 News analysis Tob Control: first published as 10.1136/tc.12.3.246-a on 4 September 2003. Downloaded from glamorise their products. Thus, an who doesn’t think secondhand smoke contact would be filtered through her inexpensive jigsaw was just one letter kills can just ask me. I want to be the lawyer. She heard no more about the away from advertising Marlboro. And last person to die from secondhand documentary, nor about the offer of in the playground of a large shopping smoke at work. I am the canary in the money and treatment. Who would mall that attracts tens of thousands of coal mine for the hospitality industry.” benefit from Heather not telling her customers every day, “dodgem” cars Brought up to do the right thing and story? were painted in imitations of Winfield not to be afraid of telling the truth, Heather meets legislators and occu- and Benson & Hedges F1 colours. The Heather’s sapphire blue eyes cloud pational health and safety officials as carefully painted village scene on the with sorrow and pain when she talks time permits between radiation, back wall of the dodgems circuit of the suffering lung cancer causes, chemotherapy, and the increasing included something so far entirely and briefly flash with anger when she need for rest as her condition deterio- alien to any Turkish village or city, a remembers the tobacco lobbyist who rates. Tobacco apologists have labelled motor racing circuit complete with a told her he had never seen a death cer- her the “anti-smoking poster girl”. West F1 car. tificate of anyone who had died from Had she been given a choice, Heather Turkish health advocates are deeply secondhand smoke. She made a public would have preferred a life of frugal concerned about the likelihood of con- promise that he will, in due course, obscurity planning her retirement in- tinuing attacks on the Tobacco Act. For receive a hand delivered copy of hers. stead of what has been imposed on all Turkey’s progress in recent years, The Ontario Workplace Safety and her: finalising her will, and planning leading to a possible application for Insurance Board accepted her claim, her funeral. European Union membership, some the first of its kind acknowledging aspects of its governmental and busi- tobacco smoke caused injury in the GORGINA LOVELL ness life, including corruption, still workplace. She received C$40 000 Vancouver, BC, Canada; render it vulnerable to abuse by compensation and lives on C$220 a [email protected] unscrupulous companies. The inter- week. During this intensely personal national tobacco control movement time Heather Crowe could maximise Germany: BAT’s sick played a major role in helping Turkish her remaining days with her beloved colleagues to get their law. It may soon daughter and granddaughter. Instead, notes be called upon again to help them to she chooses to represent the Physi- BAT Germany recently released its preserve it. cians for a Smoke-Free Canada as an social report for 2003. Where tobacco unpaid volunteer when she implores is concerned, Germany is the sick man Canada: legislators from coast to coast to of western Europe. Rampant tobacco protect all workers (not just govern- promotion saturates youth oriented courageous canary ment officials in high rise offices) from media, especially student publications, 20 March 2002—a date Heather Crowe the avoidable workplace hazard and the government is infamous would like to forget, but never will. A known as tobacco smoke pollution. among its European Union partners http://tobaccocontrol.bmj.com/ 57 year old grandmother, Heather had Heather left school at around 15 and for taking a fiercely pro-tobacco line at consulted her physician about myste- says she represents countless hospital- intergovernmental negotiations (see rious lumps on the right side of her ity workers with minimal training, Tobacco Control 2002;11:90, 291–3). So neck, possibly an ear infection, easily families to feed, and limited career it takes more than average industry treated with antibiotics. At the follow choices. When diagnosed, Heather duplicity for a German tobacco com- up appointment for test results, on the worked 60 hour weeks and earned pany to portray itself as socially re- above date, the news of Heather’s con- C$12 000 a year as a waitress. Since sponsible. dition ambushed and assaulted her: the Ottawa smoking ban in August But even German health advocates, locally advanced adenocarcinoma of 2002, her former employer’s business accustomed to industry excesses not the left upper lobe of her lung, a has increased by 40%. She ruefully seen for many years in other western condition her enlarged lymph nodes, observes the ban arrived too late to European countries, were amazed to now cancerous, could no longer hide. help her. see the front cover of this entirely pre- on September 24, 2021 by guest. Protected copyright. Another word attached itself to her Following publicity about her case, a dictable example of the tobacco indus- prognosis: inoperable. Heather’s stage stranger telephoned Heather, saying try’s “We’ve changed” public relations 3B lung cancer offers a 15% chance of he wanted to interview and film her policy. being alive five years from the date of for a documentary. When she met him, At first glance, and even on a second diagnosis. Her doctors advised that she got the impression he feared she inspection, the cover of the latest without treatment she had 10 months would change her mind. After an glossy bundle of industry make be- to live. With radiation and chemo- in-depth interview, he advised Heather lieve, which differed significantly from therapy she could buy some time.