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Article

29 May 2011

Author:
Emily Dugan, Independent [UK]

The unstoppable march of the tobacco giants: How the industry ruthlessly exploits the developing world - its young, poor and uneducated

An investigation…reveals that tobacco firms have taken advantage of lax marketing rules in developing countries by aggressively promoting cigarettes to new, young consumers, while using lawyers, lobby groups and carefully selected statistics to bully governments that attempt to quash the industry in the West…In countries such as Nigeria, Ukraine and Brazil, tobacco companies have sponsored club nights or parties aimed at attracting new young users…When countries in these emerging markets try to clamp down on tobacco, the battle often ends up in the court room…Uruguay, for example…became the first in the region to ban smoking in public places and now it wants 80 per cent of every pack of cigarettes to be taken up with health warnings. In response, Philip Morris has sued the government. It is thought that the company will demand at least $2bn in damages if Uruguay loses. [also refers to British American Tobacco, Japan Tobacco, Imperial Tobacco]

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