Busy little bees
Friday, June 8, 2012 at 9:27 The tobacco control industry has been even busier of late.
Not content with launching a website that "monitors the tobacco industry" (and anyone who dares to criticise the big beasts in tobacco control), public health campaigners are also using Facebook for the same ends:
Researchers from the Department for Health, on behalf of the UK Centre for Tobacco Control Studies (UKCTCS), have set up a Facebook page which highlights tobacco industry tactics to encourage the sale of cigarettes.
According to our old friend Professor Linda Bauld:
“In the UK the marketing of tobacco products is becoming increasingly restricted, for example this month a ban on the display of tobacco products in large shops came into force, and the government has begun a consultation on plain packaging. Due to measures such as these the tobacco industry works hard to develop innovative ways to promote their products.
“This Facebook page aims to provide people with a place to post photos or comments about new or innovative tobacco marketing that they see around the UK such as new products, new packaging, displays in shops, promotional activities at events, in nightclubs, or in the street, and online advertising.
“We’re hoping to track some of the new developments in UK tobacco marketing, and the information collected through the page will be used to inform us and the direction of our research.
Meanwhile Professor Anna Gilmore from the Tobacco Control Research Group says:
“People may ask why the University of Bath has produced this pioneering wiki. To address the tobacco epidemic, it is necessary to examine its vector, the tobacco industry.
“Specifically, we need to explore how the tobacco industry influences public health, both directly through the promotion of products damaging to health, and indirectly through influence over public policy.
“TobaccoTactics will help the public monitor the industry, its allies and others promoting the pro-smoking agenda.”
See: Researchers launch website that monitors the tobacco industry (June 7) and Researchers launch Facebook site to monitor tobacco industry tactics (May 14)
PS. I haven't commented on the Tobacco Tactics website yet. If and when I get a spare moment I'll post something here.
Reader Comments (13)
“We’re hoping to track some of the new developments in UK tobacco marketing"
I have noticed a new development in tobacco marketing in the last five years.
There are pictures of lit cigarettes all over the country, in a red circle to draw public attention.
It is quite impossible now for the public to forget about cigarettes and these pictures can clearly be seen by children as they pass through every shop, library, church or supermarket door.
The tobacco companies don't need to market the product any more. Though I can't see any way they would be able to advertise their individual brands these days, which should give quite a boost to the sales of better known brands.
@Rose2 - and we mustn't forget about the continual advertising on the telly! Has anyone else noticed that Pharma ads never show someone actually smoking whilst DOH ads always do?
Isn't it odd that no one else is allowed to show cigarette packets yet their Facebook page gloriously displays them as a cover photo for all to see. I just left a comment over there asking if the page is only open to over 18s or are they trying to entice kids to smoke with the huge photo of "attractive" cigarette packets.
Are these people totally mad? Or are they trying to recruit new young smokers who will then go to their clients in Big Pharma for NRT?
Have you seen that Nicorette (I think) ad that is doing the rounds lately? The one that says, "Feeling stressed? You're feeling the urge for a comforting cigarette. Stuck in a traffic jam? You're craving the taste of tobacco."
That damn thing is one step away from, "The warm, velvety taste of hand-rolled tobacco, rolled on the thighs of dusky maidens." If I WAS actually trying to quit, that damn thing would set me off straight away. That and the ever-present pictures of cigarettes that they've plastered on every flat surface.
How do they get away with it? It's the only damn tobacco advertising I see.
Pat, I think you know the answer to your question is, "both."
I tried to post a "response is on my own website link" but it didn't work so I post it here
http://patnurseblog.blogspot.co.uk/2012/06/tc-campaign-to-recruit-young-smokers.html
I have already mentioned the wonderful publicity for cigarettes on many occasions. It is especially noticable at Bolton Royal Hospital - the place is littered with these lovely, little red circle adverts. What is even better, from the tobacco industry point of view, is that everyone who enjoy tobacco routinely ignores them and puffs away directly in the vicinity of the adverts!
I believe from now on I will visit their facebook page to learn about new tobacco products!
Finally someone who decided to organise that!They really care about smokers!
Besides,as far as I can observe, Tobacco Industry cannot advertise its brands,but the brands can be advertised by any other industry! Sneaky heh?
Here’s a[nother] story that shows up the Tobacco Control Industry for the stupid, dangerous twits they are.
According to the TC nincompoops, The Children™ are attracted by the “glitzy” cigarette packaging, risking them becoming one of those “perverse”, terrible smokers. So, the cigarette packs must be hidden from display, lest The Children™ become overwhelmed with the desire to smoke. Then, let’s remove all the seductive, tempting colours on the packs to Save® The Children™. Yet here we have The Children™ now smoking [more than cigarettes] a substance (marijuana) that isn’t on retail display, doesn’t come in glitzy packs (or packs at all), and ….dare I say it…. is illegal for children and adults alike. (I’m only guessing, but marijuana is probably cheaper than cigarettes, also thanks to TC).
And The Children™ think marijuana is safer than tobacco. Given the denormalization and inflammatory rhetoric surrounding tobacco, it wouldn’t be surprising if The Children™ thought that heroin and cocaine…… or even drain cleaner and sulfuric acid, or a petrol cocktail…. were safer than tobacco (and cheaper?).
Three cheers for the nitwits of Tobacco Control.
CDC: More US teens smoke marijuana than cigarettes
http://www.foxnews.com/health/2012/06/08/cdc-more-us-teens-smoke-marijuana-than-cigarettes/print
Tobacco Control has totally failed, as many have already pointed out.
Smoking rates were declining very steadily over the years through choice. Bans then took over, from the insistence of the TC brigade; so did denormalisation as well as the ridiculous signs, etc.
Look at what's happened as a result - smoking rates increasing, divided families and communities, job losses, loss of income to the Exchequor, greater ill-health etc.
None of this matters though. The negative results of Tobacco Control will always go unnoticed.
Since witnessing the underhand tactics of the TC industry, I truly believe that the no-smoking signs placed everywhere, along with their advertising, are to keep smokers smoking and the TC funding rolling in.
I refuse to vote for any political party that funds lobbying industries and doesn't allow individuals to make an educated choice for themselves.
Smoking rates were reducing - why did they interfere?
Nearly everyone I knew was on a diet of some sort - why did they interfere?
People now feel ashamed if they drink too much to mention it to their doctor to get support - why did they interfere?
Funding, do-gooders and pen-pushers are the root of the problem.
I don't want my tax to be spent on worthless projects that hinder the health of the nation as a whole and line the pockets of blinkered.
Sorry to rant Simon, but I've had enough.
"People now feel ashamed if they drink too much to mention it to their doctor to get support - why did they interfere?" (Helen)
In the past few weeks I've come across two stories, from two sources both of which involve drinking, GPs and the DVLA. One was told by a Daily Wail columnist who wrote of a GP who informed the DVLA that a patient had a drink problem (he didn't: the GP, who was Spanish, had misunderstood the patient). The patient lost his job as a lorry driver when the DVLA revoked his licence. The other was told by an acquaintance who has a relative who is hitting the bottle and whose GP was consulted by the wife of this relative. The GP informed the DVLA which revoked the man's licence.
Your GP might be the last person you want to consult should you have a drink problem.
It would be interesting to see if smoking prevalence has decreased since the smoking ban's introduction in 2007. Despite ASH arguing that it has I don't think that this is so. Smoking rates are now above what they were in Ireland and in Scotland before bans were introduced there. The tobacco control industry are the only ones promoting it now, with their ugly no smoking signs and rates seemed to be declining until they interfered. Smoking rates tend to increase or stabilise following smoking bans not decline.
I am sure governments are aware of this outcome.
Has the smoking ban and the tobacco control industry stopped the decline in smoking ?