Philip Morris' offensive in Greece

Since 2018, the small island of Astypalaia, located in the Aegean Sea, near Greece, has taken the decision to ban cigarettes from its territory, and in particular from its beaches, restaurant terraces, squares, the port and the Moulin, the main tourist spot in the municipality. According to local authorities, this decision follows the weariness of residents with the quantity of cigarette butts thrown into nature, and the stated desire to promote the concept of a "smoke-free world" to residents and tourists.[1]. This is precisely where the problem lies. This initiative is being carried out in coordination with Philip Morris International, which makes no secret of its ambitions to transform the island into a "life-size laboratory for changing behaviors." The municipality is promoting the manufacturer's new products to tourists and residents, including its heated tobacco and electronic cigarettes. In other words, the municipality is providing Philip Morris with an unexpected platform to develop sales of its products, even though no independent study has proven that these products are less dangerous. It is playing the game of restoring the manufacturer's image by not solving any problems, whether health or environmental, since the manufacturer's new products are particularly toxic in this regard. This situation is also in direct opposition to the provisions of the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC). These include, in particular, the prohibition of any form of direct or indirect advertising for tobacco and vaping products and, in particular, the prohibition of misleading consumers by making them believe that certain tobacco products are less dangerous than others. Finally, such an approach is totally contrary to the protection of public policies against interference by the tobacco industry, which aims precisely to return to the decision-making table to protect its interests and relax the protective measures in force.©Tobacco Free Generation

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[1] Newsly, “This small island in Greece that has chosen to ban smoke”, 03/23/2020https://newsly.fr/2020/03/23/cette-petite-ile-grecque-qui-a-fait-le-choix-de-bannir-la-fumee/ ©National Committee Against Smoking |