Spectator (AU): How opponents of vaping aid and abet Big Tobacco

[LoveVanilla]

How opponents of vaping aid and abet Big Tobacco

Many opponents of vaping think the practice is a big tobacco conspiracy to keep people smoking and hook more kids. The reality is that vaping is a huge and disruptive threat to the tobacco industry. Campaigns against vaping support the cigarette market and are a huge gift to Big Tobacco.

Big Tobacco’s little helpers
Health organisations such as the Cancer Council and the Australian Medical Association have an understandable antipathy for Big Tobacco and want to see it punished. However, their continued opposition to vaping is perversely having the opposite effect. They are protecting the industry from competition from a disruptive technology which could help eliminate the scourge of combustible tobacco.

Harsh restrictions, such as on flavour bans and the requirement for a doctor’s prescription, will make vaping a less attractive proposition. Fewer smokers will switch to vaping, the much safer alternative. Many vapers will return to smoking.

Highly restrictive regulatory barriers also favour the tobacco industry. For example approval by the Therapeutic Goods Administration is enormously costly and onerous. This is a gift to Big Tobacco with its enormous cash flow and will eliminate most of the small to medium players in the market.

This opposition by governments, health charities and medical organisations to vaping will undermine the best opportunity in decades to eliminate deadly cigarettes. Big Tobacco can resume its lucrative cartel and people will continue to die from smoking.

With enemies like these, Big Tobacco does not need friends.

 

[Jebbn]

Worth noting that some of the institutions mentioned in the article are funded by tobacco excise and taxes.

 

[CarolT]

Worth noting that some of the institutions mentioned in the article are funded by tobacco excise and taxes.

Tobacco Control is in the driver's seat, and don't ever pretend otherwise.

 

[Jebbn]

Tobacco Control is in the driver's seat, and don't ever pretend otherwise.

Yes, I understand your point and agree, but it is worth noting that every quit tobacco group in Australia receives funding from excises and tax raised from the sale of tobacco. They wouldnt exist without it.
On the boards of some of these orgs are politicians and people with direct or past interest in tobacco companies, and dont ever pretend otherwise.

 

[CarolT]

Yes, I understand your point and agree, but it is worth noting that every quit tobacco group in Australia receives funding from excises and tax raised from the sale of tobacco. They wouldnt exist without it.
On the boards of some of these orgs are politicians and people with direct or past interest in tobacco companies, and dont ever pretend otherwise.

It's just plain ridiculous to pretend they're protecting the tobacco companies, because if they actually wished to do so, there wouldn't be a peep out of them, and there wouldn't be new laws to persecute tobacco users and ratcheting up the existing ones.

 

[Jebbn]

It's just plain ridiculous to pretend they're protecting the tobacco companies, because if they actually wished to do so, there wouldn't be a peep out of them, and there wouldn't be new laws to persecute tobacco users and ratcheting up the existing ones.

What are you going on about?
Im simply stating that quit groups receive funding from the sale of tobacco products. Sitting on the boards of some of these organization there has been over the years people directly and indirectly involved with tobacco companies.
It is part of these organizations background and day to day running.

 

[CarolT]

What are you going on about?
Im simply stating that quit groups receive funding from the sale of tobacco products. Sitting on the boards of some of these organization there has been over the years people directly and indirectly involved with tobacco companies.
It is part of these organizations background and day to day running.

The executive officers are responsible for day to day operations. Boards of directors meet periodically to review and supervise.