Tobacco

Question 0

The master settlement agreement 1994

Answer 0

4 largest US tobacco companies vs attorney generals of 46 states

(The states settled their Medicaid lawsuits against the tobacco industry for recovery of their tobacco-related health-care costs, and also exempted the companies from private tort liability regarding harm caused by tobacco use.[1]:25 In exchange, the companies agreed to curtail or cease certain tobacco marketing practices, as well as to pay, in perpetuity, various annual payments to the states to compensate them for some of the medical costs of caring for persons with smoking-related illnesses)

Question 1

Descriptive model of cigarette epidemic in developed countries

Answer 1

Lopez et al 1994

4 phases of tobacco pandemic (government intervention can curtail pandemic progress)
Lag between fall in smoking and mortality rates can muddy the waters of policy debates on tobacco control

Question 2

Patel et al, 2007, tob control

Answer 2

It is predicted that, by 2030, 70% of the estimated 10 million global deaths from tobacco will occur in developing countries.

The African nations recognised this in pressing unanimously for a comprehensive treaty while simultaneously acknowledging the need to find an alternative income for countries dependent on tobacco farming, notably Zimbabwe and Malawi.

Tobacco farming represents a unique dimension to the tobacco control debate in SSA, and previous analyses of tobacco industry documents suggest that the tobacco industry has attempted to hijack such debates by presenting tobacco control as a “first world” concern that would lead to economic destabilisation and exacerbate poverty and malnutrition among tobacco‐growing countries.

By contrast, a growing body of evidence suggests that tobacco farmers face considerable financial and health risks from growing tobacco.

BAT merits particular attention as it is the dominant player in SSA, with a market share of over 90% in 11 countries.

Question 3

Examples of TTC influence on

Agenda setting

Frustrating or circumvention of legislation

P

Answer 3

Agenda setting:
- influenced Kenyan public policy (Patel et al tob control, 2007)
BATK afraid of newcomer Mastermind who offered better prices to tobacco farmers, so used political strategy to devise legislation for ‘controlled’ environmentd that regulate tobacco farmers work and sales. And in essence, eliminate new competition as regulatory emphasis on one company. So called mastermind out on poaching and illegal farming if done on ‘their’ land. Got friendly with president moi.

Frustrating or circumvention of legislation:
Circumvented thailands ban on smoking ads by sponsoring Subaru world rally team and got 60k dollars worth of coverage in newspaper and magazines

1994, Uzbekistan,tobacco industry privatised. Bat established monopoly and investment plans oredicted increase of 45% in consumption. So part of its investment conditions, overturned legislation that banned tobacco ads and public places, and decreased excise rates

Complicit in smuggling - didn’t break law but facilitated illegal trade
To evade taxation, put pressure on government to reduce tax, crack protected markets and maintain market share