The only smoking kangaroo, should be on the barbie

via heraldsun.com.au

The Australian Government has hit out at a major tobacco company that is using a kangaroo on cigarette packages overseas.  Australian Attorney-General Nicola Roxon says there is nothing the Government can do to stop one of Australia's most treasured national icons being used to flog cigarettes in Europe.
An image of a kangaroo and the phrase "An Australian Favourite" are on packets of Winfield being sold in France.

The branding of the cigarettes, made by British American Tobacco, has angered health groups and the Federal Government.
One anti-smoking advocate dubbed the image the "cancer kangaroo".
Ms Roxon said while the Government is set to force all cigarettes available in Australia to be sold in drab olive-brown packages from December 1, it has no legal control over the packaging of cigarettes overseas.
But it was inappropriate to use Australia as a marketing tool for a dangerous product, she said.
"Frankly I think it's pretty un-Australian," Ms Roxon said.

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Nanny knows best: Why Big Tobacco's attack on Mary Poppins ought to backfire

via theconversation.edu.au

Published: June 20, 2011

It will take more than a spoon-ful of sugar to make this medicine go down.
In its latest attempt to derail the plain cigarette packaging legislation, Big Tobacco has pulled out one of its favourite pro-tobacco messages: say no to a nanny state.
The print advertisements and website ask, “Do you really like living in a nanny state?” and explain, “The government doesn’t believe you can make your own decisions. More and more, the government is telling us what we should and shouldn’t do.”
The tobacco industry’s concern with the legislation is, of course, the loss of their branding – one of the last available avenues to market cigarettes to consumers.
It’s motive? Retaining the current level of profit by selling cigarettes that cause addiction and then prematurely kill one in every two people who smoke them.
Big Tobacco has relied on a range of arsenal and contradictory messages to fight the plain packaging legislation so far.
First we were told there was no evidence plain packaging would work. Then, we were told it would increase smoking. And most recently, that it would increase terrorism and allow organised crime to flourish.
Economically, we were told plain packaging would waste taxpayer money. And, it would cost the taxpayer even more money because the tobacco manufacturers would sue the government.
Historical nannies
The term “nanny state” was coined by British politician Iain Macleod in 1965. At one stage a health minister, he smoked furiously and died at 57 of a heart attack.
The metaphor was given further prominence by the British author and journalist Auberon Waugh. Waugh, also a heavy smoker, opposed any action on smoking and died of heart disease at 61.
Closer to home, governments have been accused of nanny stateism in the process of implementing all of our greatest public health reforms.
In the 1950s, 75% of Australian men smoked. But with bans on tobacco advertising, smoke-free legislation and increased tobacco taxes, this rate is down to less than 17%, and we now have the lowest levels of smoking ever among adolescents.

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Tobacco Companies rush to find New Markets

From the glory days of the the cigarette

to this kind of stuff going on all over the world, and with the jury starting to deliver its verdict, is it any wonder that this kind of stuff goes on.

British American Tobacco has been accused of trying to promote their products to young people in a number of African countries in manners inconsistent with their marketing policy. Who would have thought that they would provide dispensers to sell single cigarettes, promote rock concerts and paint shops the colour of their tobacco brands. We had no idea we hear the marketing manager say. Bullshit I say. What hypocrisy.

These are large profitable companies with large marketing budgets. Anything to get you hooked early. Why are these practices allowed in some countries at a time when cigarettes are being banned in others. Many of these countries have terrible health statistics and low life expectancy. Nothing like a cigarette addiction to add to that misery and to the bottom line of companies such as British American Tobacco

At least you will still be able to get high in Holland.

Not for me. I always felt sick after a puff from a joint. Tobacco always did that to me. A great deterrent.

Personally I like the ban in public places. I can remember my boss in Singapore was a chain smoker and you had to clear the air when you walked into his office. When we moved to the 32nd floor of Suntec City, which was a smoke free building, he was threatened with arrest when he lit up in his office on the weekend. Not much fun to be a smoker nowadays. That said, hooking young people in poorer countries to replace your shrinking market in more progressive countries seems very underhand.

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Cigarettes Popular in the Stone Age

Harry Clarke has a great summary of cigarette advertising as part of a series of posts on tobacco addiction and impact.

The evolution of advertising is fascinating with early promotion developing a mass market for cigarettes from nothing within 20 years at the turn of the century. The early sales pitch emphasising the development of positive associations, unbridled optimism and sex appeal, rugged Cowboys and cool French Cafes. In the last 20 years we have come full circle with the banning of cigarette advertising, anti smoking adverts and the promotion of tobacco substitutes and quit smoking products. All of this within a Century.

As a non smoker, no bad thing. In the early years of my career, smokers were definitely a larger number, not a majority. Now in my office they are a distinct minority. They have been pushed out of public spaces and marginalised. I just don't like all the cigarette stubs on the ground at the nearest point of exit from a public building. I am happy that the work environment is no longer polluted. Going to visit my boss in Singapore was a fairly unpleasant experience, not just for work reasons.

What is not so good is just as the markets for cigarettes dive in the West, they are increasing dramatically in countries like India and China, major mass markets. I wonder what themes are being used to push the cancer stick onto these populations?

Don't Smoke and Drive

South Australia banned smoking in cars with kids under 16, today, World Anti Tobacco Day. Next up, plans to ban smoking in houses with kids. Imagine the potential for being dobbed in.

While I am a virulent anti smoker, I find some of this stuff a bit Big Brotherish. The fines for smoking in the car with kids are about in line with those for talking on your mobile phone without a hands free arrangement.

I really think our friends in blue have better things to do.