EU EU: Commission released report on the Tobacco Products Directive consultation

[Bill Godshall]

Here's a news article from Sweden

Sweden holds firm in EU snus fight
Sweden holds firm on EU snus fight - The Local

 

[Placebo Effect]

Here's a news article from Sweden

Sweden holds firm in EU snus fight
Sweden holds firm on EU snus fight - The Local

Sweden's National Institute of Public Health (Folkhälsöinstitutet) warns however that scrapping the ban could affect both attitudes to snuff and increase the use of snus, a product that it argues offers only adverse health effects.

"Based on the knowledge that exists about health risks and dependence, we think it should be limited, but ultimately it is politicians who decide," said Åsa Domeij, who heads the institute's drug prevention unit.

Seriously? This group has had a front seat view of Sweden's declining smoking and tobacco-related disease and death rates, and they're still for prohibiting the expansion of snus availability?

 

[Bill Godshall]

Placebo Effect wrote:

Seriously? This group has had a front seat view of Sweden's declining smoking and tobacco-related disease and death rates, and they're still for prohibiting the expansion of snus availability?

That is the unfortunate truth.

Many anti-tobacco groups in Sweden staunchly oppose the use of snus, including the following group "Health Professionals against Tobacco, Sweden", which acknowledges that 25% of male smokers in Sweden quit smoking by switching to snus.
Yrken mot tobak

 

[rolygate]

There is a tobacco control industry, with thousands of employees worldwide, for whom the only possible solution to the problem is a total tobacco ban. The 'problem' as they see it is tobacco addiction, not how to reduce the effects of it. They are not interested in a 50% reduction of the death rate as that would not fix the 'problem'.

Since the current measures they approve of will never do anything except make the tiniest dent in the problem, their employment prospects are certain for the foreseeable future - which is very convenient.

For them, this is an idealogical war and nothing to do with reducing the disease and death rate caused by smoking. Not only do we have no common ground, we are directly opposed. As the methods we support would reduce the death rate by over 50% if fully implemented, many (or most) of their number would become unemployed. This is not acceptable to them - therefore they will fight to stop any reduction in the death rate.

 

[Vocalek]

So Roly, you could say that they are fighting to keep death alive.

 

[rothenbj]

Roly, that's about the most cogent explanation of what this is all about. They have certainly built quite a massive machine to stamp their desires on the rest of the population. We see it in the US as they create a kangaroo court to preside over the direction of tobacco and how they can maintain the stance that nothing provided by the tobacco industry or its offshoots is a "safe alternative to smoking". They'll maintain that stance even to the detriment, as you pointed out, of the millions that could be saved with a more logical position. Hasn't ideological genocide been tried and punished in the past?

 

[rolygate]

So Roly, you could say that they are fighting to keep death alive.

Well, am I right?

Of course I am right.

p.s. Oh, yes, very funny Elaine

 

[Bill Godshall]

If 90% of smokers switched to smokefree alternatives, and if cigarette sales declined by 90%, real public health advocates and other objective people would consider it the greatest public health achievement in history.

In sharp contrast, abstinence-only tobacco/nicotine prohibitionists would consider that change to be a huge victory for the tobacco industry and evil.

 

[Vocalek]

Just stumbled upon these lyrics by a Canadian band, Thousand Foot Krutch

It reminds me of our situation...

They tell their lies and we all syncronize
Look to the sky because it's almost over

We want the truth, give us the Absolute
We need your help, 'cause we've got nothing!

We want the truth, give us the Absolute
We need your help, 'cause we've got nothing left to lose
I know we've tried this thing a million times
But put me out, 'cause I'm on fire!

THOUSAND FOOT KRUTCH - ABSOLUTE LYRICS


The cake is a lie.

 

[BlueMoods]

Good point. Yes I am one who uses nicotine as both a pleasure and a medication. I won't deny being addicted to nic, but it's a lot better than a few other things I have had to kick or, things I could be addicted to.