80% Alone Won't do

---

“Cancer by the Carton”: 90 years ago they warned their Smokers
Long before the American and European Tobacco Mafia introduced the poisonous fag to us, the West warned their people of the dangers associated with the deadly habit of smoking.   Glancing through a collection of old foreign magazines, the writer came across an article that appeared in ‘Christian Herald’ of October 1952, titled ‘Cancer by the Carton’, where it referred to a paper presented as far back as 1926 by a distinguished pathologist, Dr James Ewing, a leading member of American Association for Cancer Research, wrote 89 years ago, pleading for a public educational campaign.   “One may hardly aim to eliminate the tobacco habit”, he added, “…but cancer propaganda should emphasize the danger signs that go with it.” 

Your commanding Editorial ‘Pack up and Go; Mr T…!’ on 30th, induced me to do this bit, yes, but you have to force them do so; knowing them well, I would say the increased fine of 50,000/ for default on pictorial warnings [PW] and  the 80% coverage are positive but very short steps in a long journey.  Consumer-health journalism’s Articles and Editorials that alert hundreds of thousands of its readers to the link between smoking, both direct and passive and its health hazards are more effective. The wife and the kids see them, and pressurize the husband-dada to give up. The print media spear-headed by DM have contributed immensely in this direction. 

‘Mr Tobacco’ ended the 2013 financial year with a 6% drop in T/O, thanks to media, but contributed to Government a record Rs. 76.5 billion and achieved an After Tax Profit [up 12% ] to  Rs. 9.1 billion.Answering a scribe on proposed PW, ‘Mr Tobacco’, a few months ago proudly claimed, “We have a strategy to meet the adverse effects on our sales, if there are any.”  

Only acruel, punitive and harsh taxation policy can extinguish Mafia’s deadly smoke. WHO emphasis is on raising taxes on tobacco, in order to raise prices and reduce consumption. It is regrettable, that the most people friendly budget ever presented had omitted this factor; believe the Finance Minister would make early amendments; Sir, two rupees on a fag will cover a good portion of your deficit; and more importantly, will  largely relieve the Health Minster of his burdens. 


It is regrettable, that  the most people friendly budget ever presented had omitted this factor;  believe the Finance Minister would make early amendments; Sir, two  rupees on a fag will cover a good portion of your deficit; and more  importantly, will  largely relieve the Health Minster of his burdens


The West kept us in the dark; and ignorant of hazards we continued to fill their coffers until mid-1970s, when we had our first lessons.Over the past five decades, 31 Surgeon General reports have referred to evidence on enhancing our knowledge of the health hazards of smoking and involuntary exposure to tobacco smoke.  Before that smoking was promoted as a healthy habit and was considered ‘normal’, even as a mark of prestige and a personality trait.



Thatcher was paid millions of Dollars by Mafia
A medical doctor as Health Minister was a long awaited luxury; out of 16 health ministers we had only one in the past; Dr. Ranjith Atapattu [1978-1983], leaving out Dr. M. V. P. Pieris who served only for three months in 1960. No doubt it is going to be a healthy ‘shot in the arm’ for the ailing Tobacco Control efforts and enactment of Prof. Bibile’s Drugs Policy.  Let’s take a look at tobacco first as the Minister has already received a fresh Cabinet mandate for covering 80% of the pack, though this alone does not suffice to eradicate the killer: more sterner action is essential. 

Another paper that I came across was in the ‘Readers Digest Special Holiday Edition’ of 2013,which reproduced an article the magazine printed, back very many decades, in 1924, 91 years ago by an economist named  Irving Fisher, who wrote, “…we now have  sufficient information to  determine the effect of tobacco on the human body…it lowers the whole tone of the body, decreases the vital power and resistance, injures the heart, poisons the nerves, it hurts the eyes, its use sometimes induces cancer, it impairs working efficiency, reduces fertility…”



A punitive and harsh taxation  a must
The minster has to act fast before the Mafia‘gets cracking’; he must convince the cabinet and his colleague handling finance to revise taxation on tobacco with immediate effect and repeat it at every budget: they, who even bought over Margret Thatcher, must be busy looking for an alternative ‘sponsor’ here, now that the former contacts are no more ‘in the business’.

The smokers they say not only burn themselves to death but also burn to death innocent passive smokers, who are compelled to inhale the exhaled breath. Smoking upsets almost every organ of the body; it is associated with age-related colo-rectal cancer, liver cancer, macular degeneration, diabetes, tuberculosis, stroke, erectile dysfunction, rheumatoid arthritis and inflammation, to mention a few. 

 However, Tobacco manufacturers have had a strong influence on every government. The Rs. 76 billion annual taxes from tobacco amount to about 8% of total revenue; a contribution, any government would heavily dependent upon.The Mafia wields tremendous economic power over many third world countries of the world.



82% of cigarettes sold in loose form 
Pictorial warnings are comparatively more effective with the prospective smoker or the beginner than with habitual smoker; but they hardly do come across a pack, as one cannot expect them to buy a full packet.  The young man who lights up his first fag, does it  just for the ‘thrill’ of it and invariably enticed by a friend’s offer, hence will never see the warnings in the pack.  Do not be happy and contended with 80% pictorial warning alone, it has little impact on smoker psychology, may be that the first appearance would create a pang in his heart, but naturally, would lose the excitement after a few exposures; worse, market research had revealed that 82% of cigarettes are sold in loose form rather than by packs meaning only 18 out of 100 smokers see the warnings even if you cover 99% with such gruesome pictures.

We thank the minister for the amendment to NATA Act to cover 80% with warnings but propose the imposition of a ‘ruthless’ tax structure which is the best alternative that affects both the buyer and the seller; at every annual budget if you keep on doubling the tobacco tax—in ten years the cost of a cigarette will go beyond the reach of 80% of smokers.



Burn to death
The message is too strong, not only the mafia, the smokers would hate it but, the multitude of toxins, especially in enclosed spaces, discomfort of smelly garments, the number of severe illnesses passive smokers get is ever increasing,expanding, the latest, strokes added. It has been known for a long time that passive smoking increase the likelihood of Coronary Artery disease, respiratory tract infections, Middle ear disease, lung cancer, sudden infant death syndrome and the birth of infants with low birth weight, in higher death rates.





It is alleged that this is due to the deceitfulness of our politicians. We are not unique, manoeuverings by cigarette manufacturers all over the world are difficult to curtail. There has been recent back tracking by the British government, postponing legislation to compel sales of cigarettes in plain packaging.



“You are the star of the show !”
A respected Cardiologist, Dr.Upul.Wijewardene,  now living in the UK, writing to a newspaper a couple of years ago, said,  “I remember the Health camp that was arranged by the SLMA, co-sponsored by the Lions Club in the electorate of Dr. Ranjith Atapattu, Minister.  I was the Secretary of the SLMA then; a gentleman turned up at my abode and handed over a bundle saying “Doctor, these are the details of the Health Camp” and left quickly adding “You are the star of the show!”

That undeserved eulogy made me suspicious, opened the bundle …I was in for a rude shock when I noticed the layout of the programme for the Health Camp; at the two top corners, Lions logo on and the logo of Ceylon Tobacco on the other!.. On enquiry, I found out that the gentleman who came to see me held a very high position in the Lions Club and was the Public Relations Director at Ceylon Tobacco. Obviously, he was trying to equate Health with Tobacco! I knew I could not be a part of this Health Camp and rang the President of SLMA, immediately… but agreed that I could keep away, if I wished to”  

Volumes and volumes have been written on the manipulations of the Tobacco Mafia; in spite, every year, across the world, tobacco kills over 6 million that includes passive smokers as well.





The new Minister should adopt strategies that support the goal of eliminating tobacco. Ban supermarkets of displaying  attractively laid out brands of fags at the counters. It is an advertisement; the NATA Act prohibits such display, therefore it is illegal.  [Cigarettes have been temporarily off the shelves at supermarkets since the 2015 budget was presented on October 24 due to a VAT issue] Those who highlight the significant input of tobacco to the economy undervalue the negative economic costs of tobacco. It is obvious that we have recognized the harms and there is, again, confidence which we are not sure is reasonable, as the tobacco mafia are trying innovative and fresh strategies. Continuing pressure on rulers, by the media is more imperative than ever!
Cigarettes is a multi-billion dollar mafia in business and they will not give up easily. Maggie Thatcher was paid millions of dollars to advice on how to promote smoking in developing countries, which they were targeting. The media need to continue the agitation to check the naive and the ill-informed from killing themselves and others!

[email protected]