Background and History (Essay Sample)

AS RESTRICTIONS ON THE PROMOTION AND SALE OF CIGARETTES BECOME EVER MORE STRINGENT IN THE DEVELOPED WORLD, IT IS ONLY NATURAL FOR TOBACCO COMPANIES TO MARKET THEIR PRODUCTS MORE AGGRESSIVELY IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES”. HOW TRUE IS THIS STATEMENT? USING EXAMPLES FROM ONE DEVELOPED AND ONE DEVELOPING NATION ANALYSIS THE DIFFERENCES IN POLICIES (IF ANY) PURSUED BY ‘BIG TOBACCO’ IN EACH, AND THE REASON FOR THIS.
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Background and History
It emerges that the developed nations possess policies that when implemented, ensure prohibition on various aspects of advertising and marketing tobacco products, whereas for developing nations, there is lack of adequate control mechanisms to restrict the sales and promotion, especially because of commercial and government pressures (Semba & Bloem 2008, p. 673). The differences in policy means that transnational tobacco companies frequently flout national public health laws in developing nations (World Health Organization 2013). Among the solutions include enforcing more stringent rules regarding advertising of tobacco products in the developing nations, educating the masses regarding the harmful effects the products, and offering adequate control measures to prevent flouting of the rules (Henriksen 2012, p. 147). The consumption of tobacco among the developing nations is increasing at an alarming pace, with analysts concluding that every seven out of the globe’s 10 million deaths per annum by 2025 will be the result of smoking (in developing nations) (World Health Organization, 2013, p.22). as compared to the developed nations, fewer women and more men smoke in the developing nations, though smoking among women and young girls is increasing. The penetration of transnational tobacco companies in the developing nation is characterized by denial of medical evidence, complicated promotion and advertising, opposition to strict tobacco tax policy, and threats of commercial sanctions on the basis of tobacco trade. Overall, the decline in tobacco consumption in the developed countries has led to a shift of the massive promotional and sales resources to the developing nations, a trend that has contributed to ruthless marketing in the less-regulated developing nations.
Brief Introduction
Undoubtedly, the notion that tobacco companies are aggressively marketing their wares in the developing nations after the decrease of smoking prevalence in the developed nations due to stringent rules is a reality. To ascertain this, it is imperative to conduct an evidence-based analysis that focuses on two countries as the basis of the study: the United Kingdom (a developed nation) and Nigeria (a developing nation). The objective is to draw their similarities and contrasts in policies, which is crucial in determining the solutions. The analysis begins with a brief introduction regarding the topic, followed by the current situation facing the tobacco industry, tobacco policies practiced in the UK and Nigeria, and subsequently, a section offering solutions to the challenges faced by the tobacco industry in terms of sales and promotion.
Current Situation in the Tobacco Industry
Indeed, the strict tobacco laws in the developed nations have led to greater penetration and aggressive marketing in the developing nations, which possess lax laws. The gradual decline in smoking in the developed world has contributed to increased sales of tobacco products to the developing nations has contributed to a phenomenon described within the industry as the "Third World War" (Mackay 2010, p. 25).The less developed nations possess less restrictive rules and prohibitions on the sale and promotion of such products, implying that they are the most viable destinations for competitive tobacco companies seeking to acquire greater sales and market share. Transnational tobacco organizations advertise and market in the developing nations using techniques long prohibited in the developed world (Mackay 2000, p. 535). For instance, American laws restrict tobacco companies from promoting cigarette sales devoid of health warnings, selling cigarettes with high tar concentrations, and advertising on television, whereas the practice is still common in various developing nations such as Nigeria and Uganda.
Additionally, because of the significant difference in policies between the developing and developed nations, there has been an intensified penetration into developing nations by transnational tobacco companies. This is also largely due to aggressive promotional campaigns alongside commercial and government pressures to open up markets for foreign investments (Chaloupka, Cummings & Morley 2002, p. 62). In turn, this has contributed to an increase in the number of direct and passive smokers in the developing nations, an aspect that is attributed to their lack of awareness regarding the adverse effects of smoking, challenges in executing legislation, and inadequacy in funding of tobacco control mechanisms. At this juncture, it is prudent to analyze the policies practiced by the UK and Nigeria in order to ascertain the differences.
Tobacco Policies in the UK
In the UK, stringent policies regarding the sales and promotion of tobacco products have been in existence for decades and are complete and comprehensive (Warner & Mendez, 2010, p.12). Most prominent forms of advertising and promotion in the country were banned after implementation of TAPA – the Tobacco Advertising and Promotion Act of 2002 (ASH Fact Sheet 2012, p. 19). The law was tightened gradually, commencing with restriction on billboard advertising and print media in 2003. Later, a restriction on direct marketing of tobacco was implemented in May 2003, with restriction on sponsorship coming into place in July of the same year. Restrictions on advertising on points of sales were also instituted, with advertising being limited to a size of A5 (Leicester & Levell, 2013, p.5). However, TAPA has not restricted the display of tobacco products in retail outlets, an aspect exploited by many companies. In the developed nations, the fully implemented legislation is pragmatic, only permitting big tobacco companies to manipulate prices to raise their profit levels (Warner & Mendez, 2010, p.12).
Tobacco Policies in Nigeria
Overall, Nigeria has lax laws pertaining to the sale and promotion of tobacco (Yusuf & San 2015, p. 1). The country’s law that was proposed to be implemented in 2009, the National Tobacco Control Bill, has not yet taken off despite being eventually signed in May 2015, with politicians citing "technical irregularities." (Mackay, 2000, p.536). This means tobacco control is not a top policy priority for the government, which is faced with poverty, terrorism, insecurity, and corruption issues. Transnational companies have exploited these failings to market and promote their merchandise. For example, large tobacco companies have been known to compromise politicians to delay the control bill or permit them to trade freely (Agaku, Akinyele & Oluwafemi 2012, p. 8). For instance, the British American Tobacco company has been cited as an example of a transnational company that influences tobacco policies in Nigeria (Gilmore et al., 2015, p.1030). This implies the government is vulnerable to bullying tactics by such companies. Table 1 in the Appendices section summarizes the differences between Nigerian and UK policies.
Solutions
Whereas the UK has made significant strides towards restricting the sales and promotion of tobacco, it has not completely covered all the loopholes (ASH Fact Sheet, 2012, p.19). When it comes to free display of tobacco commodities in stores and outlets, the government ought to do more by requiring sellers to conceal them. On its part, Nigeria needs to expedite its Tobacco Control Laws to restrict the sale and promotions of cigarettes. This includes restricting advertisements on television, billboards, radio, and posters (Leicester & Levell, 2013, p.14). Additionally, the government ought to get rid of corrupt lawmakers who delay passage of critical control laws and solicit bribes from large companies to let them sell in the company freely. It also needs to launch an educational program aimed at educating the masses regarding the adverse effects on human health by tobacco products. If these are achieved, it logically follows that the country will solve its smoking problems. To offer even more comprehensive solutions, there needs to be litigation partnership between the developed and developing nations to assist in solving the challenge of lax tobacco control legislation (Collin, 2012, p.275).
Conclusion
In the present world, more countries are aware of the harmful effects of tobacco and are moving towards tobacco-free environments. To safeguard the population from the adverse effects of the drug, it is critical to restrict individuals from accessing materia...