Memorandum by Gallaher Group Plc
THE TOBACCO INDUSTRY AND THE HEALTH RISKS
OF SMOKING (TB 8)
5. PUBLIC AWARENESS
5.1 In Gallaher's view, when considering
the role of Government in providing consumer protection, the public
awareness of the risks associated with smoking, which have been
known for many years, is a material factor. Since the introduction
of tobacco into Britain in the 16th century, it has been claimed
that tobacco is hazardous to health. An outline of the historical
position is provided at appendix 2.
5.2 So far as modern history is concerned,
the key points that are demonstrated by the outline contained
at appendix 2 are:
(a) opposition to smoking in the UK has developed
since, at least the 19th century and has been particularly vocal
for more than the last 40 years;
(b) claims that smoking may be detrimental
to health have appeared regularly in the popular press, books
and periodicals and other media, such as radio and television,
as they evolved, during the 20th century;
(c) the publication of each of the Doll and
Hill reports in the 1950s and the first report of the RCP in 1962,
the 1964 report of the US Surgeon General and the second report
of the RCP in 1971 resulted in widespread publicity concerning
the risks associated with smoking. Such publicity has also surrounded
each of the later reports of the RCP and US Surgeon General and
those of other public health bodies, such as the Health Education
Authority;
(d) since the mid-1950s Government and education
and public health authorities have conducted numerous educational
and health campaigns, targeted both at adults and children, by
means of advertising campaigns, pamphlets, films, television features,
meetings and anti-smoking clinics. These campaigns, endorsed by
medical practitioners, have been focused upon the risks associated
with smoking, preventing people from beginning to smoke and encouraging
smokers to stop smoking;
(e) independent survey results demonstrate
that by, at least, the late 1950s, there was virtually universal
awareness of the reported association between smoking and lung
cancer and the risks associated with smoking;
(f) claims that smoking may be addictive
are not new. Publicity in the 1950s and 1960s also focused upon
claims that cigarette smoking was addictive;
(g) smokers' knowledge of the claimed risks
of smoking has been supplemented by the placement of warnings
on cigarette packets and reference in advertising to warnings
for almost 30 years. From 1971, cigarette packets carried the
words: "WARNING by HM Government. SMOKING CAN DAMAGE YOUR
HEALTH"; and
(h) since 1971, the warnings appearing on
cigarette packets and advertising have been strengthened, from
time to time, in the light of the continuing dialogue with the
Government (see the voluntary agreements at appendix 3). Since
31 December 1992, the warnings appearing on cigarette packets
have been those stipulated by EC Directive 89/622/EEC and EC Directive
92/41/EEC.
5.3 In summary, the public debate surrounding
smoking and health throughout modern history, and most certainly
since the 1950s, has been constant, widespread and loud. Authoritative
reports and scientific studies on the risks of smoking, along
with anti-smoking campaigns and Government actions, have ensured
that the issues surrounding smoking have been placed in front
of the general public and remain so. Smoking does not prevent
smokers from understanding information as to the risks associated
with it and it seems inconceivable that any adult, in the UK,
has not been aware, for many years, of the risks associated with
smoking. Furthermore, the awareness of the risks associated with
smoking enables adults to make an informed choice of whether or
not to smoke, and they do so. Since at least the 1950s, there
has been no shortage of information to help them with that decision.
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