Tobacco Industry News

Research

Tobacco sales and promotion in bars, cafes and nightclubs from large cities around the world
A new study published in Tobacco Control shows that tobacco companies advertise extensively in bars, cafes, and nightclubs around the world. Researchers surveyed 231 owners or managers of bars, clubs, and nightclubs in 24 large cities in Africa, the Americas, Asia, and Eastern Europe to assess tobacco sales and advertising in these environments. They found that establishments in most of the cities allowed tobacco promotions like giveaways and event sponsorship, and those that permitted smoking were 8.67 times more likely to sell cigarettes than those that did not. Larger establishments with occupancies of at least 100 customers were 4.35 times more likely to have tobacco advertising and 3.18 times more likely to receive promotional items from tobacco companies than smaller establishments. This study reveals a need for countries to enact laws that restrict tobacco sales and promotion in order to reduce exposure to tobacco marketing and promotions, reduce smoking initiation, and promote cessation. Click here to read the study abstract.

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Reports

Philip Morris USA provides report to FDA on the use of menthol in cigarettes
When the FDA determined that tobacco industry representatives would not be allowed to participate in the drafting of the FDA’s menthol report, the tobacco industry was invited to compile a report on its perspective regarding the use of menthol in cigarettes. On March 23rd, Altria Client Services provided a written report to FDA director Lawrence Deyton. Contrary to the conclusions in the FDA’s report, the industry’s report states that banning the use of menthol in cigarettes would not alleviate the dangers of smoking at the population level, and that restricting the use of menthol in cigarettes is “neither necessary nor justified.” Click here to learn more, or click here to download Altria’s report. Related: FDA menthol report released As required by the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act, an FDA committee has released a report on the public health effects of the use of menthol in cigarettes. While the report states that there is insufficient evidence to indicate that menthol cigarettes carry greater health risks than unflavored cigarettes, the committee notes that it is biologically plausible that menthol makes cigarettes more addictive, and noted that removing menthol cigarettes from the market would improve public health. Click here to read an overview, or download the full report.

FDA tells Star tobacco products not part of FDA law
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has notified tobacco company Star Scientific that its dissolvable tobacco lozenges are not under the FDA’s jurisdiction. Star Scientific had asked the FDA to certify the lozenges as “modified risk” tobacco products under the 2009 Tobacco Control Act. The FDA’s Center for Tobacco Products determined that the Act only applies to the regulation of cigarettes, cigarette tobacco, smokeless tobacco, and roll-your-own tobacco, making the lozenges not subject to regulation. This was seen as a test case for whether the agency would permit certain tobacco products to be marketed as less hazardous than cigarettes. The FDA noted that it is considering legal and regulatory options regarding whether, and how, other products containing nicotine should be regulated; a scientific advisory panel will be releasing a report and recommendations about dissolvable tobacco by March 2012. Click here for more details.

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