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“
ASH
Australia has slammed a tobacco company for its abuse and manipulation
of smokers, following a new report in The Lancet* exposing
almost three decades of industry deception over “light” and
“mild” cigarettes. The
report shows British American Tobacco (BAT) was aware “low-yield”
cigarettes were not safer than regular brands but would give lower
readings on machine testing. Cigarette companies promoted “Light”,
“Mild” and other brands, knowing that addicted smokers would
inhale more deeply and smoke more of the cigarettes to satisfy their
nicotine craving. ASH
Australia’s Chief Executive Anne Jones says: “It’s
sickening to see yet more chilling evidence of how the tobacco
industry continues to abuse smokers, treating them as little more than
lab rats with wallets. “More than forty years and 80,000 scientific publications since the US Surgeon-General alerted governments to the fatal link between smoking and disease, the statistics remain staggering: almost five million deaths a year globally and 19,000 in Australia alone. “Smoking is
the only epidemic run by corporations operating in an ethics-free
zone and with very little government regulation. Tobacco remains
almost entirely exempt from the content and safety controls we take
for granted on everything from food to medicines, poisons, cars, toys,
household appliances and bean bag furniture. “The
tobacco industry's political clout is still the single
largest obstacle standing in the way of a just and effective
regulatory framework.” Health
groups are calling on government authorities to end the regulatory
limbo over products that are still widely available and promoted
despite killing more Australians each year than the combined deaths
from car accidents, alcohol, illicit drugs, murder and suicide. * Hammond D et al (2006), Secret science: tobacco industry research on smoking behaviour and cigarette toxicity, in The Lancet, early online 8/2/06, DOI:10.1016/50140-6736(06)68077-X Comment: Anne
Jones, CEO, ASH Australia ph.
(02) 9334-1876 m.
0417-227-879 Media inquiries:
Stafford Sanders ph.
(02) 9334-1823 m.
0412-070-194
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Page last updated 9/2/06 |
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