6

News analysis...... Tob Control: first published as on 25 February 2004. Downloaded from

socioeconomic classes—professionals, challenges the bans on in Argentina: ‘‘non- government officials, and students— closed environments. and sells approximately 10 000 copies However, the Veintitre´s article’s com- smokers’ dictatorship’’ each week. It is advertised on television. parison of the smoke-free movement On 2 October last year, just five days A well known journalist and former with the Nazis is a classic example of the after Argentina signed the Framework director of the magazine, one of the favourite strategy of Convention on (FCTC), people whose views against tobacco con- trying to position those who work for the magazine Veintitre´s (‘‘Twenty-three’’) trol were quoted in the article, also smoke-free environments as members published a note on smoke-free envir- conducts a popular political news of an extremist movement. Tobacco onments. The main story of the maga- programme on television together with control activists around the world zine was illustrated on the front cover some of the staff of Veintitre´s. During should be aware of this strategy, and using the swastika under the title ‘‘The the show, and most unusually for be prepared to respond with the appro- non-smokers’ dictatorship’’. television, he smokes frequently—he priate arguments. Smoke-free environments are close to obtained a privileged contract to be the JAVIER SAIMOVICI becoming a reality for Argentineans, not only person allowed to smoke on the Unio´n Anti-Taba´quica Argentina, ‘‘UATA’’, only as a result of the signing of the studio set. Just as Veintitre´s is promoted FCTC but also because of strong advo- Buenos Aires, Argentina; on television, the television programme [email protected] cacy from the anti-tobacco movement itself is advertised in Veintitre´s. The and the government’s support for strong show’s large audience (about one JOAQUIN BARNOYA legislation. The story focused on the million) includes many young people. Center for Tobacco Control Research and alleged persecution that smokers endure The author of the Veintitre´s article Education, University of California, San from the ‘‘crusaders’’ for tobacco con- smokes, but no relationship has been Francisco, USA; [email protected] trol, especially the prohibition to smoke found between her or the magazine and in closed environments. In addition, it the tobacco industry, except one tobacco included the opinion of well known advertisement in each of two issues in USA: make health individuals in Argentina, some arguing the past few months. In issues following insurance include http://tobaccocontrol.bmj.com/ for and some against tobacco control. publication of the article, the editor The story also provided examples of the published some helpful letters from the cessation help, says alleged importance of tobacco in the public, sent in response to the pro- history of show business and politics. tobacco position of the original article. poll Examples included Winston Churchill Perhaps the original motivation of the Many tobacco control advocates around and Fidel Castro (nowadays, of course, author and editor was to challenge the world regard California as one of the an ex-smoker who lends his support to the present tobacco control climate world’s most successful pioneers in health campaigns). Statistics about the in Argentina, which is growing and some aspects of tobacco control. It is burden of tobacco and the commercial enjoys the support of the country’s easy to admire tobacco control pro- interests of the tobacco industry in president, just as every week the tele- grammes that may cost the equivalent Argentina were also included. vision programme mentioned above of the entire health budget of many a It was noteworthy that the author of small, less affluent country; and the US on September 25, 2021 by guest. Protected copyright. the story, Raquel Roberti, failed to west coast super-state has also had its mention the deadly effects of second- share of setbacks from recalcitrant hand smoke, or the benefits from politicians taking the easy way out to smoke-free environments that include gain popularity with taxpayers. What a decrease in heart disease mortality, really counts is the long term change in smoking prevalence, and the number of society’s attitudes to tobacco control, smoked. Also absent from the and whether people back progressive story was the previously documented programmes to the extent that they are strategy used by the tobacco industry to willing to pay for them. Recent research avoid smoke-free environments in in California appears to have confirmed Argentina, which included banning the the state’s success in winning the battle ‘‘Neri Bill’’ in 1992. for the hearts and minds, as well as the It is worth examining the wider lungs, of its population. media context in which the magazine A state wide survey by San Jose State is published. Veintitre´s is a weekly University has shown that Californians magazine aimed at the middle and high with health insurance overwhelmingly support the inclusion of smoking cessa- tion treatment in standard health insur- ance coverage. Seventy one per cent All articles written by David Simpson believed medications and programmes unless otherwise attributed. Ideas and to help smokers quit should be part of items for News Analysis should be sent standard health benefits, and 72% to David Simpson at the address given agreed that employers should offer on the inside front cover Cover of the Argentine magazine Veintitre´s, bearing a swastika under the title ‘‘The non- employees insurance that includes cov- smokers’ dictatorship’’. erage for stop-smoking benefits. Despite

www.tobaccocontrol.com News analysis 7 evidence that shows stop-smoking med- industry’’ (better than having to say it to dream that it could fend off the ications and counselling programmes was, at best, the second largest). inevitable curbs on its activities as the can double the success of smokers trying With a fine disregard for logic, and of majority seller of the country’s leading to quit, coverage for such comprehen- course no mention of tobacco related cause of preventable death and disease. Tob Control: first published as on 25 February 2004. Downloaded from sive services varies widely among health health care costs, estimated to hugely It has dared to spend a vast amount of insurance products. Yet smoking related outweigh revenue, PTC effectively took its shareholders’ money trying to por- medical costs account for almost 12% of credit for the large amounts of tax it tray itself as a benign rather than all health care expenses in California, collects from its addicted customers and malignant presence in the country, and where the direct medical costs of smok- passes on to the finance ministry. It did to try to make credulous politicians and ing are more than $8.6 billion annually. not put it that way, of course: it showed other decision makers believe in its Perhaps most interestingly, when a chart of increasing tobacco tax rev- dreamland. In reality, it is at the centre asked whether they thought the cost of enue in an ad somehow framed to of an epidemic nightmare from which smoking was so great that it was worth suggest that PTC might be making these the country urgently needs to awake. paying a little more for health insurance payments voluntarily, rather than in to cover benefits, response to the laws of the land and 61% agreed. In other words, a majority the decisions of the government about USA: they were putting of insured Californians, including smo- rates of tobacco duty. what, where? kers and non-smokers, are willing to But the most emetic ad of all covered In a surprisingly little noticed move, the pay slightly higher health premiums to PTC’s sponsorship of a fleet of mobile US National Association of Attorneys include stop-smoking medicines and dispensaries ‘‘that reach out to patients General (NAAG) last year successfully programmes in standard health bene- in far flung places who need medical requested that four major tobacco com- fits. As Traci Verardo, executive director attention’’. In the background of the panies cease placing advertisements in of the Next Generation California newspaper version of this one, a doctor the school editions of several news Tobacco Control Alliance put it: measures the blood pressure of an magazines. Magazines such as Time, ‘‘Californians want to take the next step elderly patient, while in the foreground Newsweek, and US News and World Report and give smokers access to resources to another doctor listens to the chest of a publish special editions for use in school quit successfully. It is a real testament younger patient, who is lying down with classrooms, and these editions can be that even in this difficult healthcare an oxygen mask over his face. It is all modified from those published for gen- marketplace, insured Californians— too easy to imagine the effect on the eral distribution. Newsweek alone distri- even non-smokers—are willing to make blood pressure of the doctors who lead butes over 300 000 copies to schools for an additional investment to reduce the Pakistan’s tobacco control movement, use in school libraries and social studies impact of smoking in our state.’’ whose clinics are packed every day with classes. http://tobaccocontrol.bmj.com/ real patients like these, suffering life The issue was brought to the atten- threatening diseases solely as a result of tion of Vermont attorney general their smoking. William Sorrell, who chairs NAAG’s Pakistan: weapons of As in all the ads, the copy under the Tobacco Committee, by a group of mass deception mobile dispensary picture ended, ‘‘PTC eighth graders (aged 13–14 years) from dared to dream, and has dared to Pakistan Tobacco Company (PTC), local Plainfield, Vermont, who found that 120 achieve’’. It is true, of course: PTC/BAT subsidiary of British American Tobacco ads for tobacco products were placed in has dared to be different, and has dared (BAT), has been engaged in one of the the magazines between January 2002 and June 2003. Phillip Morris, Brown most determined tobacco industry pub- & Williamson, US Tobacco, and RJ lic relations blitzes ever seen in South Reynolds agreed to remove the ads in Asia. Quite why it has mounted it now is response to a request from NAAG, on September 25, 2021 by guest. Protected copyright. unclear, though for some time the which is responsible for enforcing the government has been making tobacco 1998 national tobacco settlement. control noises, and BAT may have A spokesman for RJ Reynolds claimed woken up to a nasty possibility. While that the company was unaware that the it currently enjoys an almost totally free ads were appearing in school editions of hand to convey exciting, glamorous the magazines. However, as the attor- messages for its lethal products to neys general noted, magazine publishers young people, things may change as commonly use a process called ‘‘selec- the government considers how to imple- tive binding’’ to place certain adver- ment the FCTC. tisements in some copies of their With the theme of ‘‘Daring to be publications and not others. Tobacco different’’, newspaper and broadcast companies have undoubtedly made use ads have covered a range of benefits of this technique for targeted marketing that the company claims it brings to purposes, as have numerous other Pakistan. One placed in December on advertisers. the front page of all major newspapers Given the tobacco companies’ past claimed that PTC was working for the history of marketing to children, and improvement of Pakistan’s environ- their reputation for tightly orchestrated, ment, and had planted 30 million trees highly controlled marketing efforts, this in the country. Another ad talked of the assertion of blithe unawareness of a company’s 30 000 employees and their basic ad targeting strategy strains credu- winning corporate culture. In yet lity. In addition, the incident demon- One of several advertisements appearing in another, PTC claimed that tobacco was newspapers in Pakistan extolling the virtues of strates an appalling lack of awareness essential for the country’s economy, as the Pakistan Tobacco Company (PTC), the local on the part of major news magazines ‘‘the largest taxpayer outside the oil subsidiary of British American Tobacco. about the most basic and best publicised

www.tobaccocontrol.com 8 News analysis provisions of the Master Settlement However, the reasons for the appar- Agreement—no marketing to children ent collusion between a government whatsoever, and specifically no tobacco department (the Ministry of Economic advertisements in publications targeted Affairs), a government based agency Tob Control: first published as on 25 February 2004. Downloaded from at young people. Was this an oversight (CPD), and tobacco company interests on a massive scale or another brick remains to be understood and revealed. knocked out of the tobacco cartel’s youth marketing stonewall? We may TIBOR SZILAGYI never know; but it shows the impor- Health 21 Hungarian Foundation; tance of independent groups and indi- [email protected] viduals closely monitoring all aspects of any and every tobacco control regula- Australia: sudden tion. The ubiquitous Marlboro logo, now being forced off the streets in Hungary. death in Sydney AMANDA HOLM Are tobacco control advocates a senti- Detroit, Michigan, USA; [email protected] mental lot, prone to overlooking the fact part of the scene on our streets. As it that, as tobacco industry apologists Hungary: tobacco ads later turned out, the Consumer never tire of pointing out, ‘‘We all die Protection Directorate (CPD), a govern- eventually’’? Or is it perhaps a case of forced back inside ment based agency responsible for those able to do Big Tobacco’s dirty On 19 December 2000 the National enforcing the ban, received instruction work being either a self selecting bunch Assembly of Hungary passed the from the Ministry of Economic Affairs of tough guys, or a group with a knack amendment of the 1997 Act on to apply the tobacco industry’s inter- for denial about the medical conse- Advertising, which introduced a com- pretation of the law. As a consequence, quences of their products, or both? prehensive ban on tobacco advertising. CPD turned a blind eye to the everyday, Whatever accounts for the differences (Tobacco Control 2002;11:79–81). The ban illegal practice of the industry. in the way the two sides view tobacco was to take effect on 1 July 2001 for The Hungarian National Smoke-free induced disease, an industry document print media and 1 January 2002 for Association (NSFA) decided to inter- that surfaced recently shed an interest- outdoor advertising, including posters, vene. Without having information on ing light on how a tobacco industry billboards, and other forms of advertise- the deal on which CPD enquiries about executive viewed a sudden death almost ments. The law only allows ‘‘exhibition outdoor tobacco ads were based, it first certainly aided by the free cigarettes of tobacco products and their prices’’ at collected information and reported to that were routinely given to industry http://tobaccocontrol.bmj.com/ the point-of-sale (POS), advertising in CPD illegal practices of which it became employees until comparatively recently. industry publications and, on request, aware. It was only after its claims had In February 1972, almost exactly 10 for global motor sport events, such as been rejected by CPD that it made its years after the world’s first expert the Hungarian Formula 1 race. next step. review of the scientific evidence about Tobacco industry representatives, First, NSFA asked the ombudsman’s the effects of smoking on health was supported by interest groups of the office to take a stand on the issue. On 4 published by the Royal College of advertising industry, expressed their February 2003 the ombudsman took the Physicians of London, which included disappointment and obtuseness around position that tobacco advertising was some strong conclusions about smoking the law. Their first thought was to not allowed in shop windows or shop and sudden cardiovascular death, a challenge the law in the Constitutional fronts. Next, NSFA sued CPD for deem- series of tobacco industry meetings took Court, because of the violation of ing legal a tobacco advertisement placed place in Australia. An American execu- commercial freedom of speech. While a outside a bar in Budapest. In a pre- tive identified only as Bill, possibly on September 25, 2021 by guest. Protected copyright. law firm prepared the submission, the cedent setting court case the Court of William Kloepfer from the US Tobacco challenge was never initiated. Instead, the Capital City ruled in favour of NSFA, Institute, wrote home to a colleague, tobacco companies started thinking outlining that in the context of the law, ‘‘Dear Alex [almost certainly Alex about ways to evade the regulation in ‘‘point of sale’’ did not include anything Holtzman, general counsel to Philip an attempt to remain as visible to the visible from a public place. Morris in the United States], Informal public as possible. A representative of an According to this decision, promo- progress report. Damn good trip so advertising agency even thought about tional POS material for tobacco will far…’’ and went on to describe his first behind-the-scenes agreements between have to be placed specially in retail few days down under. the tobacco company and the publisher outlets so it cannot be viewed from Describing a lunch at British Tobacco, of the illegal ad, through which the outside. Since the first case, the court he related how ‘‘Unfortunately, William company assumes the expected fine. In has ruled in favour of NSFA on nine Bengtsson whom I had just met and the end, neither of these tactics have other occasions, and forced CPD to do who was our host a[t] luncheon col- been used. Tobacco companies chose to what was intended by the law: to lapsed and died at the luncheon table, conclude a deal with the Self-regulation protect the public from the interests of and my attempts to resuscitate him Advertising Board (an association with a small but powerful lobby group. were completely fruitless. It was quite a membership of a wide range of The efforts of NSFA have already sad, as he was much liked and highly ‘‘advertisers’’, including all major trans- started to bear fruit. Shop owners, competent.’’ national tobacco companies), and to fearing fines and court cases, began Quite sad? Is that all? Was it a form of develop their own interpretation of removing tobacco ads from their shop manly understatement, or just a collo- what POS meant. fronts. While indirect tobacco adver- quial turn of phrase of the time, as in The result was disappointing for tisements—such as the ubiquitous the English translation of the famous tobacco control advocates and for those Marlboro logo—are still to be seen, 19th century German book of terrify who were committed to controlling there is unquestionably a change in ing cautionary tales for children, tobacco through administrative means. the public acceptance of tobacco adver- Struwwelpeter? In that, young Conrad, Again, tobacco advertisements became tisements. who ignored his mother’s instructions

www.tobaccocontrol.com News analysis 9 and sucked his thumb, had both book called The Ladykillers, a pioneering It is depressing when we read of thumbs summarily amputated by the work by Bobbie Jacobson, at that time rising female smoking rates, and of the big tall tailor: on mother’s return, deputy director of the British public inevitable rise in female rates of smok- Conrad ‘‘looked quite sad and showed health group Action on Smoking and ing induced disease that follows later. Tob Control: first published as on 25 February 2004. Downloaded from his hands’’. Health. The listener objected to the word But more than depressing, it is outright But in 1972, in Sydney, how did Bill ‘‘lady’’ in the title. frustrating when we see evidence that, really feel? In particular, did it enter Jacobson was one of the first people in some quarters, nothing appears to Bill’s head, even for one fleeting to focus on the then unfashionable have been learned. Despite the painful moment, that this might be the very subject of women and smoking. Her lessons the industrialised countries of kind of thing the doctors were on about? excellent book highlighted not only the the west have been taught over more If so, he gave no hint of it in the letter, additional health concerns that women than half a century, tobacco manufac- though his business responsibilities smokers face over those of men, but also turers have not had to adjust their clearly included responding to what the way women had been and contin- methods in any major degree. When doctors were increasingly saying about ued to be specially targeted and they want to get previously non-smok- tobacco. His letter went on to give an exploited by tobacco companies. The ing women to take up the habit, all they upbeat description of how he had explanation offered to the angry New need to do is to promote it as a sign of impressed the Victorian state health Yorker that the title, borrowed from a liberation, just as US manufacturers did minister with evidence about a 25% classic British post-war comedy film, so successfully in the 1930s and 1940s, error in assigning causes of deaths in had been considered too well known showing women doing what had pre- autopsied cases, ‘‘ergo, much higher in and appropriate for the author and viously been men’s work, such as being non-autopsied cases’’. He ended confi- publisher to resist, was swept aside as air raid wardens. dently, ‘‘Tomorrow, I meet with a group irrelevant: men’s control of women, But why do imbecilic mass media of Melbourne physicians. So far so including designating some of them as organisations, in countries whose gov- good’’. ladies, was seen as a more important ernments and citizens are well aware of The tragedy is that, despite the now problem than their being encouraged to the problems, have to do the toba- take up a habit that had been killing irrefutable evidence, more than 30 years cco companies’ dirty work for them? men for years. Last November, the French magazine after Bill wrote his letter, his final In fairness, a similar New York Courrier International carried a feature on comment could equally describe, with feminist today would probably be female emancipation in the Muslim a few exceptions, the continued for- among the strongest opponents of Big world, highlighted on the front cover tunes of the tobacco industry. Tobacco’s exploitation of women. The by a photograph of a chador-wearing

trouble is, though, that as in almost Muslim woman with a newly-lit cigar- http://tobaccocontrol.bmj.com/ Smoking and female every aspect of tobacco control, history ette in her mouth. Another picture, keeps repeating itself. Despite huge printed alongside the actual article, emancipation: when strides in organised resistance to showed a different Muslim young tobacco, the worldwide expansion of woman smoking, in a pose obviously will we learn? knowledge and resources to fight it, and chosen to show a new sense of freedom About a quarter of a century ago, a the communications explosion, the among the subjects of the piece. This is British tobacco control advocate visiting world at large is still aiding and abetting exactly the sort of message big tobacco New York found himself on the receiv- tobacco companies in their continued companies want to project. And the ing end of a withering look and a sharp efforts to ensure that while men still sickening thing is, we can be almost put-down from an American feminist. smoke their products, equal numbers of sure that in another few decades, pub- His crime? He had recommended a new women can be recruited, too. lications like this will be boasting world on September 25, 2021 by guest. Protected copyright.

Women have been, and continue to be, the target of aggressive marketing by the tobacco industry.

www.tobaccocontrol.com 10 News analysis exclusives about the shocking rise in lung cancer in Muslim women, who South Africa: PM at the previously had low rates of the disease.

door Tob Control: first published as on 25 February 2004. Downloaded from Bad news from South Africa: as if the Poland: coffin nails country did not have enough problems, Everyone who has seen the classic 1930s it was reported in December that Philip movie Some like it hot will remember the Morris (PM), which at present only moment in the opening car chase imports its cigarettes, has been explor- through the streets of Chicago when ing the possibility of manufacturing police open fire on a hearse-load of them there. PM’s rival, BAT, has more gangsters; as the coffin takes a few hits than 90% of the market and PM, which from the police, it becomes evident that already has a strong presence though its it was packed with bottles of illicit brewing subsidiary, SAB Miller, has alcohol. Something similar happened been using the argument that BAT is recently in Poland when a hearse, being protected in a near monopoly returning from a journey to deliver a status, to try to force the kind of entry body for burial in neighbouring it wants. Japan Tobacco (JT), too, used Ukraine, was subjected to a routine similar arguments when it complained search by border customs officers. But recently to the competition commission this time the contents were not alcohol, that BAT was restricting its retail sales, but more than three thousand packs of indicating JT’s own intentions to try to contraband cigarettes. As if echoing the sell more cigarettes in the beleaguered Chicago scene, a Polish customs spokes- country. woman said: ‘‘We’ve found liquor in What really worries health advocates coffins, but cigarettes in a hearse, that’s is not so much the reputation of PM as a new one.’’ Perhaps it was a new form the most ruthless promoter of tobacco; of one-stop trading by enterprising after all, South Africa has the region’s undertakers: import cigarettes, sell leading tobacco control legislation. More them, leave your business card, and Lingerie specially designed to help women stop worrying is that, according to news- smoking, bearing no smoking signs. hope to collect the smoker later for the paper reports, in making its bid to a

usual procedures. government desperate for economically http://tobaccocontrol.bmj.com/ double surprise to learn that underwear beneficial investment from overseas, PM manufacturer Triumph International is asking for some of the regulations, Japan: the curious case had designed a range of lingerie existing and proposed, to be weakened. of the non-smoking designed to help women to stop smok- For example, it has reportedly been ing, and that it had chosen a model trying to persuade the government to underwear who, at least to western eyes, looked scrap a proposed amendment to the A year ago, we reported on the rising distinctly Japanese. The items of under- tobacco control law that would ban tide of interest and activity in tobacco wear, decorated with large no smoking displays in shops, saying that control in Japan, set against the con- signs and quite modest by western such displays would be the only way it tinuing reluctance of the government, standards, were fitted with pads to could make smokers aware of its majority owner of the world’s third contain the fragrances, and these, in brands. It does not seem to have largest tobacco company, to take effec- an interesting example of Japanese addressed the logical response, namely on September 25, 2021 by guest. Protected copyright. tive action (see Tobacco Control design ingenuity, could apparently be that the brands are already on the 2003;12:8–10). We also noted the tra- detached and used as facemasks when market, so likewise, smokers must gedy of Japan having to repeat the grim desired. already be aware of them. Nor has PM cycle of recruitment to smoking of its The fact that the garments, contain- refrained from telling the government women, who until a mere quarter ing herbal fragrances such as lavender that its proposed ban on shop displays, century ago were almost entirely non- and jasmine to help smokers quit and like its high import duties on imported smoking. It was in connection with counteract tobacco odours, were not tobacco products—another skittle it smoking Japanese women and the even for sale, and were called wants to knock down—will not help desirability of their trying to quit, that Manifesto in recognition of the then meet the country’s public health goals, a clever piece of commercial promotion upcoming parliamentary elections, tells only maintain BAT’s near monopoly. swept briefly round the world last us that this was a highly opportunist The argument usually employed by November. However, it was not directly piece of corporate promotion. But it tells companies trying to open up monopoly focused on smoking cessation as such, us something else, too. As suggested markets is that prices will fall, thus but on a new range of underwear. above in the story about California, an benefiting consumers. In this case, even This is not the first time that Japanese important indication of the likely suc- if PM remembered to keep quiet about women’s underwear has featured in cess of any aspect of tobacco control that one, it is to be hoped that the these columns. Readers of our original policy is the way society at large views government realises that this likely out- piece will remember that in Japan, it is the issue. So if Triumph’s ad agency come would most certainly be against common practice for the advertising reckoned that Japan is not only ready to the interests of its health policy. The industry to use western models when see an ad of a young Japanese woman in inappropriateness of a tobacco company promoting products for women that her underclothes, but in general is advising a government on what will or may be considered controversial or supportive of the notion that she should will not meet health goals does not seem embarrassing within Japan’s strict be trying to stop smoking, it is surely to have struck PM’s top executives; but cultural traditions, including both another indication that at long last, there again, it is unlikely they would be cigarettes and underwear. So it was a tobacco control is gaining ground. in their jobs if they were sensitive to

www.tobaccocontrol.com News analysis 11 Tob Control: first published as on 25 February 2004. Downloaded from

UK: a nice name doesn’t make something less deadly. Images from a recent public education campaign by Cancer Research UK. The images, used on postcards and in mass media advertisements, aimed to remind people that cigarette brands with pleasant sounding names are no less lethal than all other cigarettes. such niceties. If they succeed, we can described by its inhabitants as go elsewhere (his own have a special only wait and see how badly they England’s second city, with a record of smoking room), company boss Nigel manage to affect South Africa’s struggle doing today what the rest of the country Sarbutts commissioned a special coffin to free its people from tobacco addiction. does tomorrow. It certainly clocked up shaped ‘‘smoking booth’’ and had it http://tobaccocontrol.bmj.com/ Depressingly, newspaper reports cov- another first when a go-ahead company placed outside his offices. Mr Sarbutts’s ering PM’s latest African adventure boss, sick of people from nearby build- company works in public relations and have given no hint that this might be ings smoking outside his offices, even advertising. ‘‘We are in the image bad news for the country’s people, but sitting on the office window sills and business. We have clients coming in,’’ only reported it as if it were just another leaving the usual debris of cigarette he explained to journalists, adding, with item of business news. It is not always butts, empty packs and other litter, a heartfelt multiplicity of meaning, ‘‘It recognised that South Africa’s high decided to erect a ‘‘facility’’ that might just looks rubbish.’’ levels of tobacco consumption, always deter them. ahead of other countries in the region, After four years of politely asking the are mostly a byproduct of the bad old smoking workers of other employers to Sri Lanka: artist’s son days of apartheid. South Africa needs to hits at BAT keep going forwards, not be dragged on September 25, 2021 by guest. Protected copyright. In our last issue, we reported how CTC, backwards by those whose intentions local subsidiary of BAT, had been are highly exploitative, and could not be exploiting for public relations purposes further opposed to those of health. a foundation named after one of the region’s most famous artists, George UK: free bier for the Keyt, who died in 1993 (see Tobacco Control 2003;12:345–6). We recently workers learned that Mr Keyt’s son, Sachin As everyone knows, one of the few Keyt, has no illusions about the scale problems with smoke-free workplaces of BAT’s appropriation of his late is the unsightly, messy groups of smok- father’s good name. We print below ing employees they can spawn, hanging extracts from an interview that Sachin around the front door of otherwise Keyt gave to a Sri Lankan journalist last smart buildings, giving a bad impression year: of the business inside. There was even a ‘‘Even when my father was living this story from Australia some years ago, foundation did not give him the due after government buildings went totally place. My father trusted them and after smoke-free and groups of smartly his death only I came to know that they dressed young women employees began had taken rights of my father’s paint- smoking on their doorsteps—foreign ings away. He was not a fool, but tourists reportedly commented on the innocent and childlike. That’s the way high class appearance of women they of real creative artists… I am very assumed were prostitutes. displeased about the activities of this A novel approach to this problem was A coffin shaped ‘‘smoking booth’’ for office Foundation and the sponsors of this seen recently in Manchester, proudly workers. annual event, which is being held by

www.tobaccocontrol.com 12 News analysis Tob Control: first published as on 25 February 2004. Downloaded from

BAT’s ‘‘Smoking point’’ which was recently banned from Rio de Janeiro’s airport. BAT advertisement for the George Keyt Foundation—‘‘they are ruthless people’’. are ruthless people. This is the truth, control legislation, recently ordered manipulating my father’s name. which I want to reveal to art lovers.’’ Souza Cruz, Brazilian subsidiary of Cigarettes are harmful and sponsoring CTC uses its sponsorship of the BAT, to remove its ‘‘Smoking point’’ of an event of art by such people is a George Keyt Foundation to try to pre- from the airport in Rio de Janeiro. The disgrace done to a great artist like my sent itself as a socially responsible structure, erected by Souza Cruz and the http://tobaccocontrol.bmj.com/ father… company. One of its recent public airport management company, was a relations advertisements in national ‘‘When my father was living, too, the ventilated smokers’ stand in the other- newspapers reproduced the name and manner in which they treated my father wise smoke-free airport. Anvisa said it logo of the foundation, along with an was not right. The Foundation had was not placed in an isolated area, and artist’s easel. Presumably it justifies the power to the extent to control my father. the technical analysis of the pilot project cost of such ads as a small price to pay Soon after his death they just stopped was inconclusive in terms of ventilation to try to avoid effective tobacco control the allowance due to my mother and performance and filtration. While tests measures. It is nothing new for a tobacco she was very disappointed. After a were being conducted, the public should company to profit from the dead. couple of months she too passed away. not have been exposed to uncertain When my father was alive they took outcomes, Anvisa said, and Souza Cruz away his entire valuable, old paintings, Brazil: BAT’s ‘‘smoking violated marketing regulations by dis- which he had dearly collected for years. playing the company logo on the equip- on September 25, 2021 by guest. Protected copyright. They said they wanted to sell them for point’’ banned ment, as well as using questionnaires the maintenance of the Foundation. But Anvisa, the agency responsible for mon- there to get details for the company’s what is the Foundation doing now? They itoring and enforcing Brazil’s tobacco database.

www.tobaccocontrol.com