Influence of the tobacco industry

To create a regulatory environment that is favorable to its interests, the tobacco industry seeks to influence political and public decision-makers. The interference of the tobacco industry in public life constitutes a major obstacle in the development of public policies to reduce tobacco use, according to the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC).

GOALS

The tobacco industry is characterized by its systematic opposition to any form of regulation or rulemaking. More specifically, cigarette companies oppose the implementation of any public health policy, which is by definition incompatible with their interests. This opposition can take different forms:

• Prevent the adoption of measures

This is the tobacco industry's main goal: any attempt at regulation must be blocked before it can be adopted.

Example: In France, as in all countries that have adopted this measure, the tobacco industry sought to block the bill introducing plain packaging (2016).

• Save time: postpone the implementation of measures

The tobacco industry is seeking to gain time in implementing regulatory policies, to continue its activities as long as possible, and to organize its response by developing new products in particular.

Example: adopted in 2014, the European directive on tobacco products, under the influence of lobbies, made it possible to delay the ban on the sale of menthol cigarettes and rolling tobacco until May 2020.

• Weaken the measures

The tobacco industry will systematically seek to gut any regulatory project in order to make it ineffective, inoperative, and therefore harmless to the economic interests of cigarette manufacturers.

Example: pressure from the tobacco industry led to a significant watering down of the decree on smoking restrictions in public and collective places, particularly in reception areas and catering establishments (1992).

• Locking down adoption processes

The tobacco industry, in order to protect its interests, goes so far as to influence the capacity of a State to legislate. This is a higher level of political interference.

For example, the tobacco industry, through British American Tobacco, played a crucial role in promoting the concept of Better Regulation in the European Union, which carried the idea that the Commission should carry out a form of impact assessment (cost-benefit analysis). This analysis, focused on an economic and short-term dimension, has the consequence of making any undertaking of legislation in the area of public health more difficult.

• Attack the measures

Once implemented, a control policy remains in the sights of the tobacco industry, which seeks to have it cancelled, suspended, or weakened.

In Norway, the tobacco industry has sought to challenge a law banning displays in tobacco shops, citing existing trade agreements.

• Circumvent or even violate the rules in force

When its interests are at stake, the tobacco industry does not hesitate to circumvent or violate existing regulations.

Example: while the Evin law prohibits in France any form of direct or indirect advertising in favor of tobacco, cigarette manufacturers have developed indirect advertising campaigns for alibi products or services in order to better promote their products. Today they are investing in social networks as a circumvention tool and advertising vector for tobacco.

MEANS

With the tobacco industry's image tarnished in the eyes of the public and a large number of decision-makers, cigarette manufacturers often exert a discreet, indirect influence with protean aspects. In particular, the instrumentalization of third parties is one of the most recurrent practices of the tobacco industry.

• Lobbying firms

Public relations and communications agencies are essential vectors of influence for the tobacco industry to preserve its economic interests.

Examples: The tobacco industry uses prestigious agencies such as Publicis or Image 7

• Using opinion leaders

A number of opinion leaders from various fields are useful in promoting the social acceptability of smoking, or challenging public health policies.

Examples: the world of culture and its smoky icons allow the valorization and aestheticization of smoking (Catherine Deneuve smoking on the Plateau du Petit Journal), certain intellectuals denouncing the "moral hygiene" of anti-smoking associations.

• Think tanks and front organizations

The tobacco industry mobilizes a certain number of third parties, presented as independent, to relay themes and arguments favorable to the interests of cigarette manufacturers.

Examples: instrumentalisation of think tanks to contest measures relating to taxation (Molinari Institute), advertising, organisation of smokers' associations set up from scratch to put pressure on political leaders and election candidates (We are 13 million).

• Direct contacts

The tobacco industry benefits from a wide network of contacts, including in key positions, who are instrumental in relaying the positions and talking points of the cigarette manufacturers, and blocking or slowing down any attempt at regulation.

Examples: study groups and parliamentary clubs, recruitment of parliamentary assistants and former chiefs of staff, organization of parliamentary missions in favor of the tobacco industry,

proposed laws, submission of amendments in favour of industry, identical written questions asked by different parliamentarians, etc.

• Intrusion into major schools and universities

This strategy helps to give the tobacco industry respectability by associating it with prestigious institutes, while promoting it as an interlocutor and a sector of activity for talents.

Examples: cigar clubs, partnerships with tobacco manufacturers within alumni associations, organization of conferences in prestigious locations, recruitment through trade fairs, teaching provided by representatives of the tobacco industry.

• Intrusion into research

This strategy allows the industry to fuel alternative science, intended to deny or minimize the dangers of smoking, or even to make people believe in certain benefits of smoking (hypothetical virtues of nicotine on neurons, anxiety, etc.).

Examples: direct proximity to the Spinal Cord Institute, funding of research projects, presence of the tobacco industry in research organizations, internal studies of the tobacco industry.

• Alliances with other industries

The tobacco industry forms alliances with other industries, which then serve as a voice to advance their interests on common issues.

Examples: contesting the neutral packaging through intellectual property defense groups, alliance with the National Anti-Counterfeiting Committee to avoid tax increases or the neutral packaging.

• Philanthropy and CSR actions

These actions, which create values and mobilizing collective projects, aim to help the tobacco industry regain its respectability. They help give visibility to cigarette manufacturers in a context where all advertising in favor of tobacco is banned.

Examples: institutional partnerships and patronage in the arts and culture, donations to charities, social patronage actions (fight against poverty, against violence against women, support for the disabled, assistance for entrepreneurship, donations of equipment during the COVID crisis).

• Entertainment

Invitation of political figures to cultural and sporting events.

Example: in 2013, Philip Morris International rented a box to attend Roland-Garros, where Henri Havard (number two at Customs) was notably invited.