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.