Even as the World No Tobacco Day (WNTD) is commemorated, cigarette manufacturer British American Tobacco (BAT) urges the public to imagine what the world would be like if the legal tobacco industry was forced out of existence.
Every year on May 31, the World Health Organization (WHO) and partners mark WNTD to highlight the health risks associated with tobacco use and to advocate for effective policies to reduce tobacco consumption.
The company says it welcomes fair, open and honest debates regarding public health. However, it adds while some of the industry’s critics are concerned with improving public health, a vocal minority seem more concerned with simply driving the tobacco industry out of business, assuming this will see an end to smoking around the world overnight. BAT believes these critics should be careful what they wish for.
“The tobacco industry is a highly regulated, legitimate industry that sells a legal product. We conduct our business in a professional and responsible way, abiding by the laws where we operate in, often even going above and beyond our legal obligations,” says Robert Eugenio, head of corporate and regulatory affairs of British American Tobacco (BAT) Philippines.
“Unfortunately the same can’t be said for the sophisticated network of criminals ready and waiting to step-in and take over if the legitimate tobacco industry didn’t exist.”
“Driving the tobacco industry out of business altogether will not end all smoking overnight. The reality is adults who wish to smoke will continue to do so and they will turn to the black market if a legal industry is not in place.”
BAT, manufacturer of cigarette brand Lucky Strike, is back in business in the country after pulling out on 2009; bolstered by the approval of Republic Act 10351 or the Sin Tax Law which leveled the playing field in the local tobacco industry. BAT is a global company which employs 55,000 people and affects at least 250,000 farmers worldwide.
Growth in illegal trade
The global market for tobacco accounted for 660 billion sticks, according to the Framework Convention Alliance, making it roughly equivalent in volume to the world’s third largest multinational tobacco company.
“BAT continues to fight the illegal tobacco trade. We have made a long term commitment to sustainability, generate excise revenue, and provide employment and livelihood to hundreds of thousands of employees,” explains Eugenio.
Illegal tobacco is sold by well-organized criminal gangs. “These people don’t abide by the law or follow government regulation. They don’t pay taxes, they don’t care what’s in their products, and they happily sell to minors,” notes Eugenio.
“Globally, BAT has worked closely with governments and law enforcement agencies to tackle illegal tobacco, some of which deal in money laundering, drugs, human trafficking, and fund terrorist organizations,” reveals Eugenio.
A vision of what the world would look like without a legal tobacco industry has been brought to life in a series of pictures which can be found at www.bat.com on Flickr and on YouTube.