British American Tobacco awarded Golden Butt for illegal advertising campaigns

On March 21, the National Committee Against Smoking (CNCT) organized the third edition of its 5.3 Awards – For tobacco-free and lobby-free public policies. The manufacturer British American Tobacco France was doubly awarded the Mégot du hors-la-loi and the Mégot d'Or for the deployment, at points of sale, of aggressive and illegal advertising campaigns for its Vuse brand vaping products and VELO brand nicotine pouches.

Through this award ceremony, the CNCT wishes to highlight the numerous lobbying activities of the tobacco industry and its allies that contribute to perpetuating the tobacco epidemic in France and around the world. The 5.3 awards are divided into two categories (positive and negative). The positive awards reward initiatives that have contributed to effectively combating the tobacco lobby, and the negative awards highlight the worst initiatives in terms of interference.

British American Tobacco France doubly distinguished for its illicit practices

Following its competitor Philip Morris France, which won the Mégot d'Or two years in a row, British American Tobacco was recognized for the deployment, at points of sale and in particular at tobacconists, of aggressive and illegal marketing campaigns for its nicotine products (vaping products and nicotine pouches). According to the CNCT, this advertising effort involves the multiplication of animated screens, or illuminated windows, making the products available. The association also points out that these nicotine pouches are marketed completely illegally in France.

Among the other prizes awarded, MP and doctor Joëlle Mélin (National Rally) received the Lobby Mégot for having " summer throughout the year 2023, a relay from the Confederation of tobacconists to the National Assembly”. The MP has notably positioned herself in favour of the de-indexation of tobacco taxation from inflation, and regularly highlights the role of tax increases on parallel market levels.

The Molinari Institute received an award in the category of the "Mégot de la langue de bois". The think tank, known for its closeness to so-called "controversial" industries, regularly publishes articles in favor of the commercial interests of the tobacco industry. Without mentioning the author or any possible conflicts of interest, the latest paper, entitled "Innovation in the service of consumers and risk reduction", turns out to be a real plea in favor of the tobacco industry's new nicotine products.

MPs Pasquini, Lauzzana and Olive doubly rewarded for their cross-party bill on puffs

MPs Francesca Pasquini (Ecologist), Michel Lauzzana (Renaissance) and Karl Olive (Renaissance) were awarded the 5.3 Prize for political and legal initiative and the Grand 5.3 for having submitted, at the end of 2022, a trans-partisan bill aimed at banning single-use electronic vaping devices (puffs). This parliamentary initiative is for both health and environmental reasons. This bill was adopted in February 2024.

Journalist Simon Guichard received the 5.3 positive information prize for having published an investigation last December, rigorously documented in L'Humanité dimanche, devoted to parallel tobacco markets. Tobacco trafficking: how cigarette companies keep control », highlighting the role of the tobacco industry in the illicit trade of its products. Simon Guichard is also particularly active in covering the subject of tobacco, and regularly highlights the practices of manufacturers in terms of marketing or lobbying.

Crédit Mutuel Alliance Fédérale was awarded the 5.3 positive independence prize for announcing in September 2023 that it had withdrawn, with all of its subsidiaries, from the tobacco industry in its financing and investment activities. This decision was taken due to the "numerous harmful effects of the industry on both the environment and human health." For Daniel Baal, CEO of Crédit Mutuel Alliance Fédérale, " This distinction rewards our resolute action against smoking, one of the leading causes of preventable death in the world. ".

Keywords: Prix 5.3, CNCT, awards, lobby, tobacconists, Pasquini, Lauzzana, Karl Olive, British American Tobacco

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