The Burden of Tobacco
February 7th, 2008
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A new study by the World health organization warns that smoking could potentially kill one billion people in the 21st century. An article in The Economist details some of the challenges governments face in attempting to control smoking especially in the developing world,
The practical argument for action is simpler: the tobacco industry is getting the world’s poor hooked before governments can respond. In recent years, as rich countries have clamped down on smoking, tobacco firms have shifted their focus to poorer places. A study by Britain’s Bath University found that by using aggressive tactics, such as targeting women, international tobacco firms had helped to double smoking rates in Russia since 1991.
The tobacco industry is regrouping in order to focus on “promising” markets and escape the pesky lawsuits it is likely to face in rich, litigious countries. For example, Altria, a global tobacco concern based in the United States, plans to spin off Philip Morris International as a stand-alone foreign entity in late March. China is now home to more than a quarter of the world’s smokers; it will soon be manufacturing Marlboro cigarettes for Philip Morris, and the firm will be exporting Chinese tobacco to other countries.[link]
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