Profit at the Expense of Consumers

To some people, smoking is fun and it brings that machoness or confidence to the smoker. Some are caught on it due to it being a habit. Some smoke as they are addicted to cigarettes. Some smoke when they can't handle work or personal pressures.

In the first place, when and how were you introduced to cigarettes?

Cigarette producing companies have to think of various ways to promote their cigarette brands worldwide and through means that won't incur public scorn. Various sporting venues have decided to do away with cigarette sponsorships due to respective countries' health laws. Stricter health laws have restricted public advertisements too.

In Africa, it seems that British American Tobacco was cited to have broken some marketing code when promoting their cigarette brands. They did their advertisements via indirect methods in Nigeria, Malawi and Mauritius:-

* providing sponsorship for a music event
* celebrities appearing at the music event wearing Embassy and Pall Mall branded goods
* painted shops the same colour as Matinee, one of their leading brands
* distributed to shops to make it easier for them to sell single cigarettes
* produced single cigarettes and showing the price of a single cigarette

In Malaysia, friends who have attended music events in Kuala Lumpur told me cigarette companies do distribute cigarettes freely to young teens at the music events. Not the small time cigarette companies mind you. They want you to be addicted to their cigarettes, that's the game.

Reading: Tobacco giant 'breaks youth code' - BBC News/Africa
Tags: Cigarette, Health, Tobacco, BAT, British American Tobacco, Cigarette Advertisement