[Intl-tobacco] UK Tobacco Firm Targets African Youth (fwd)

[Robert Weissman]

UK Tobacco Firm Targets African Youth
Company representatives were giving free cigarettes
by James Westhead
Source: BBC Online, Wednesday, 9/20/00

	Exclusive by the BBC's health correspondent, James Westhead

A BBC investigation has found that a British tobacco company is actively
targeting young people and teenagers in Africa.

Cigarettes are being handed out free at youth events specially organised
by tobacco firms during school holidays.

The companies insist they only give the samples to adult smokers, but
there's evidence their own rules are not being followed.

The investigation is a further blow to an industry already dogged by
accusations of dirty tricks and dubious marketing techniques, particularly
in developing countries.

The company involved, British American Tobacco (BAT), has pledged to
re-train its staff to stop the practice.

The World Health Organisation is backing a radical international tobacco
control treaty, which would include a global advertising ban.

At a beach volleyball tournament in the Gambia, the organisers told the
BBC it was laid on for young people during the school holidays.

Here in one of Africa's poorest countries though there was another more
sinister purpose;  promoting cigarettes.

Yellow Benson and Hedges banners were everywhere and so were young women
in B&H t-shirts handing out free cigarettes in the crowd.

Tobacco companies say they don't give samples to under-eighteens. But as
the women helped youngsters light up many appeared under-age and no-one
checked their age.

One of the cigarette reps said the age limit was only fifteen before
quickly correcting herself.

She said: "We only give free cigarettes to big boys."

'Encouraging people'

One eighteen year old told us, "Coming to the beach and handing out free
cigarettes - that is encouraging people to smoke."

The operation is run from London by BAT, who produce the main cigarette
brands in the Gambia, Piccadilly and Benson and Hedges.

The Gambia, a muslim country, used to be one of the few places where
cigarette advertising was banned.

After a military coup the ban was lifted three years ago and now tobacco
sponsorship is everywhere.

The result has been a doubling of cigarette sales almost overnight. The
World Health Organisation believes it has also led to an increase in
smoking among children.

A recent survey it conducted across Africa found one in five under fifteen
year olds now smoke.

The WHO representative in the Gambia, Dr James Mwanzia, said:"It is the
height of hypocrisy because, how do you sponsor a health event like a
volley ball match and then give out cigarettes?"

Football tournaments, music concerts, even parties are also sponsored by
cigarette companies as a way of gathering young people together.

Youth football teams in the Gambia can't even afford footballs, so tobacco
companies hand out free cigarettes at soccer games.

Following our investigation BAT say they would re-brief their teams in the
Gambia as a precautionary measure to ensure their staff do not hand out
free cigarettes to children under eighteeen.

They insisted their own rules had not been broken.