- Conference
- 2009 National Black Members' Conference
- Date
- 11 September 2008
- Decision
- Carried
Conference notes that
In a shocking documentary on BBC2, it was revealed that British American Tobacco Industry (BAT) were promoting the sale of single stick cigarettes in countries such as Mauritius, Nigeria and Malawi thereby attracting children as young as 11 years old to purchase single stick cigarettes that worked out cheaper than the alternative of buying biscuits appropriate for taking to school.
The marketing tactics used by the British based cigarette company extended to painting shops in the same colour as the cigarette box for effective advertising of the branch also putting on music events with bands wearing tee-shirts representing the BAT logo. Pall Mall Embassy Cigarettes create posters advertising prizes which include watches, bicycles and money following entry into prize draw competitions based on the sale of cigarettes. Unfortunately such underhanded marketing tactics serve to encourage smoking by playing into the hands of the vulnerable who make the assumption that entering such prize draw could lead to wealth.
Conference further notes that
In Malawi there are examples of children as young as 11 years old smoking 10 cigarettes a day and selling packets of cigarettes in order to make a living. However owing to a lack of education many of these children are unable to read the warning signs written on a pack of cigarettes, despite this disturbing news at present only 9% of adults smoke in Malawi. This figure is likely to change if BAT is allowed to get away with advocating the sale of single cigarettes to vulnerable young impressionable people who view smoking as fashionable and cheap.
It is estimated that 5.4 million deaths per year occur as a result of smoking and that more Africans will die of cigarette related illnesses compared to that of malaria.
The Ministry of Health are attempting to ban the sale of single stick cigarettes, unfortunately the message does not appear to be getting through.
Conference deplores the
Use of unethical marketing tactics perpetuated by greed and the fact that British American Tobacco Industry has breached its own International Marketing Standards, i.e. not be aimed at, or particularly appeal to youth, and to carry a health warning as well as the health warning on product packs.
The National Black Members’ Committee (NBMC) calls upon the National Executive Council and other bodies to:-
1.Write to the Ministry of Health to urge support in banning the sale of single stick cigarettes in developing countries;
2.Work with the TUC (Health and Safety Committee) and Department for International Development to raise an awareness of the dangers of advertising the use of single stick cigarettes to people, particularly the young in developing countries;
3.The NBMC in conjunction with the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children to campaign against the potential exploitation and profiteering of children in the promotion of single stick cigarettes in developing countries which evidently can lead to serious health issues.