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Tobacco Company cognizant of health concerns

Jun 25, 2016 News

– opposes minors’ use of cigarettes

Although globally there has been a reduction in smoking trends, the incidence of smoking has however not declined markedly. This state of affairs has been underscored by Mr. Christopher Brown, Head of the Legal and External Affairs for 24 British American Tobacco companies in the Caribbean.
This development, according to Brown, is essentially linked to the fact that the world has been directing greater focus on health.
“People are taking less sugar, they are working out more and they are eating better…so there is a global focus on healthier lifestyles and we have seen a decline on that level,” Brown related.
While it is believed that a reduction in smoking is linked to regulatory measures being enforced globally, Brown insisted that “long before it was legally required we were self regulating, and we started to put it (precautions) on our (cigarette) packs ourselves. So even before there was a law stipulating that tobacco entities put those health warnings on the packs, we were doing it.”
“People believe, from time to time, that cigarette companies and tobacco entities are focused on just selling the products at all costs. It is a legal product and until a decision is taken to make it illegal we are operating in a very open, honest legal way; we are upright corporate citizens,” stressed Brown.
According to him, tobacco companies have recognised that they have a right to give consumers information that they need.
“So we understand and appreciate that we are marketing and distributing a product where its consumptions could have some health-related implications…From the outset we have had no issues in terms of putting on (the packs) the health warning, even before they were demanded by law,” Brown reiterated during a recent interview.
According to the Managing Director of Demerara Tobacco Company (DEMTOCO), Ms. Maurlaine Argyle-Kirton, her company currently even has in place a self-initiated programme that targets retailers countrywide. And the programme, according to her, emphasises the notion that “we are against the selling of tobacco to minors and our distributors are aware of this when they conduct business”.
But culturally, Argyle-Kirton noted, a number of underage children are sent to community shops where they are tasked with purchasing tobacco. She however noted that DEMTOCO does not in any way condone the selling of tobacco to persons below the age of 21.
“Sometimes you may not be able to tell the difference, because a 21-year-old can sometimes be easily mistaken for an 18-year-old (or vice versa). If you, from your judgment, believe that this is a minor, you need to leave a note that I couldn’t sell because it is a minor,” said Argyle-Kirton.
She pointed out too that there is no legislation at this point in time that restricts, prohibits or penalises such actions. Nevertheless, she noted that “the industry recognises that we are selling a product that is highly controversial. We are selling an adult product and we need to be responsible”.
DEMTOCO, according to her, has been taking responsible actions to ensure that “we appear to the general public as being a responsible company. Responsible action has been taken and that will continue”.
The local tobacco company has been in existence for 81 years and its products are distributed across the length and breadth of Guyana. While Bristol (cigarette brand) is a permanent fixture of the company, it also distributes a number of other brands, since according to Argyle-Kirton, “we are part of a global company”.

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