Tobacco giant accused over files

Tobacco giant accused over files

in an article in The Lancet, researchers say they are finding it difficult to access the documents. The company has rejected the claims.

Researchers believe the files may contain secret information on how BAT has tried to boost sales.

They believe the files may also include details of strategies to target children and people in developing countries.

Tobacco giants have "mid-term" plan in raising their profits in the developing and developed nations, targetting children through their cleverly made advertisements while shoving and pushing the researchers and the public away from getting access to the documents that could shed light in their devious plans. A remarkable movie on this issue was released in 1999, "The Insider", where a sharp description of tobacco company's scare tactics, their suppression of truth and putting enermous pressure on their own employees from revealing the damaging truth to the public were described well.

The Washington Post published an editorial today where it urged the United States Congress to pass "the ABIPARTISAN proposal in Congress to give the Food and Drug Administration authority to regulate tobacco products". Anti-smoking programs are playig good roles in reducing smoking among the young and the overall populace. Here is the conclusion from Post's editorial:

Recent studies suggest that coordinated anti-smoking programs are reducing smoking rates. Youth smoking has declined sharply over the past several years, after spiking in the mid-1990s. And data from New York City show an 11 percent drop in the number of smokers between 2002 and 2003. Meaningful national regulatory control over tobacco marketing and production, the additives in cigarettes, the claims about cigarettes sold as reduced-risk products, and the nicotine content in tobacco would further reduce smoking and save lives. Even Philip Morris is on board. Congress should not lag behind.