New report exposes how the tobacco industry exploited the covid-19 pandemic to increase its profits at the detriment of public health.
PRESS RELEASE 09 December 2022 The African Tobacco Control Alliance (ATCA) has launched a report titled, COVID-19 and Tobacco Industry Interference in Africa. Produced following a study conducted in 2021 which explored how the COVID-19 pandemic impacted on tobacco control in Sub Saharan Africa, as well as how the tobacco industry exploited the pandemic to promote...
Individual cigarettes could carry ‘smoking kills’ warnings: health minister
Each cigarette sold in Australia would be printed with messages such as “smoking kills” or manufactured in ugly colours under a federal government plan to combat the waning impact of plain packaging laws with the biggest nicotine reforms in a decade. Health Minister Mark Butler has promised to “reignite the fight” against nicotine and tobacco...
COVID-19 and Tobacco Industry Interference in Africa
The COVID-19 pandemic has brought economic setbacks and death while ravaging the health systems of nations around the world. These devastating effects are occurring at a time when tobacco use remains the single preventable cause of death and disease globally. Tobacco use kills about 8 million people around the world annually. The tobacco industry has...
Tobacco taxes could reduce cigarette use
In the context of declining tobacco use at the global level, sub-Saharan Africa is positioned to experience a tobacco epidemic. This is as a result of fast economic and population growth, coupled with intensive marketing efforts by the tobacco industry. Increasing the excise tax on tobacco products can serve as a powerful tool for reducing...
EU tobacco taxation: The fine line between killing smoking and illicit trade
The European Union’s plans to further increase tobacco taxation and reduce declining smoking rates across the bloc have pleased public health advocates, but the industry warns that tax revenues may be disrupted by the rise of illicit markets that flourish when taxes are high. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), tobacco taxation is an...
