Economic drag
Tobacco industry supporters have cited potential hits to businesses and the economy that public smoking limits could spark. The ACS report, however, points to data showing that in fact the hospitality industry—including bars and restaurants—have not suffered under smoking bans. And, notes Gary King, a professor of behavioral health and sociology at The Pennsylvania State University in University Park, many tourists from Europe and the U.S. have come to expect smoke-free environments at their destinations.
"There are some costs associated with declines in consumption," including loss of livelihood for tobacco farmers and increased smuggling, notes Evan Blecher, a tobacco control economist with the ACS in South Africa, "although these costs are outweighed by the benefits."
Direct spending on nicotine consumption racks up some $590 million each year in Nigeria, and indirect costs such as the loss of productivity have been tallied in Kenya at about $1.2 billion.
Limiting places people can smoke is not the only way to get people to kick the habit. Blecher says that raising cigarette taxes—which boosts government income—is probably the best way to curb use.
International pull
The Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), as part of a larger WHO treaty, went into effect in February 2005 and requires that signatory nations commit to protecting citizens from public secondhand smoke by 2012. In the 168 countries that have ratified the treaty, "it's being implemented in a checkerboard fashion," Glynn says. (Unlike many African nations, the U.S., which has passed smoke-free laws on the state and local level, has not signed the agreement.)
Even as other countries have had success instituting smoke-free laws, no one process will prove to be perfect worldwide. Passing—and enforcing—laws that curtail public tobacco use depend on each nation's specific history, legal system and popular attitudes, Glynn notes. Legal gray areas have kept lawyers and policy experts debating the finer points of many proposals, he adds.
When it comes to tobacco consumption, Africa's varied regions have disparate histories, cultures and attitudes. Although the Global Smokefree Partnership's report focuses on sub-Saharan Africa, "the problem is just as severe—if not more so—in north Africa, where tobacco use and consumption has a longer history and more established independent culture," King says. In some parts of the continent, such as the west where tobacco products have been around since the slave trade era, nicotine is often delivered via harder to measure mediums such as pipes and chewing tobacco.
Trimming tobacco use may also prove to be a paradoxical culture clash. "Smoking represents a cultural connection to the West," King says. And as more people in Africa obtain disposable incomes, more will add luxury products—such as cigarettes—to their lifestyles, he notes. Meanwhile, onlookers in the West push for rapid reversal of these potentially harmful trends, King explains, noting that many advocacy groups are pushing for changes at "ludicrous" rates. In the U.S., for example, even the existing patchwork of smoke-free laws has taken decades to enact—"nothing happened overnight," he says.
Open markets
Why has Africa become the new international target for stemming the tobacco tide? "You have to look at it from the perspective of the tobacco industry," Glynn says.
Africa is home to about 12 percent of the world's population but only 4 percent of the world's tobacco users. "That makes it a battleground, but that also makes it a golden opportunity for prevention," he says.
"No one has ever accused the tobacco industry of being stupid," Glynn says, noting that they have an obligation to look out for their shareholders just like any enterprise. But, he notes, their tactics can be strident. Aside from lobbying politicians to weaken smoke-free legislation, such as by keeping some smoking areas in public places or mandating ventilation rather than complete bans, the companies have targeted their advertising to women and even children. "I have seen children wearing child-sized Marlboro T-shirts," Glynn says.
Smoking is not as prevalent among women in Africa, which is not uncommon in developing regions, says Fred Pampel, associate vice chancellor for research at the University of Colorado at Boulder, who has studied the demographics of tobacco use in Africa. But that is not necessarily for the better. "Often adoption of smoking by females lags behind males by about 10 years," he says, so "things could change quickly for the worse."
The sheer number of young people also presents both promise and potential trouble for nicotine-related health issues in Africa. As King notes: "What the tobacco industry is banking on is the reservoir of nonsmokers among the youth population."
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19 Comments
Add CommentMs. Harmon and other journalists: Please stop repeating former Surgeon General Carmona's claim that "there is no safe level of exposure to secondhand smoke." That's not true. Every source has a dosage level below which it is not harmful.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisThank you.
This is eerily reminiscent of the East India Company's' evil enslavement of the Chinese to opium. Why is this pernicious drug tolerated and promoted when Marijuana is demonized?
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisIt's a topsy turvey World.... But as with most things, its a case of 'follow the money'.
I think it is important to indicate that the Gates Foundation has generously started to provide funding to promote tobacco control in Sub-Sahara Africa. In December 2007 the Canadian IDRC received $5 million + (for a 2 year program), in July 2009 ACS was selected to lead a $ 7 million (5 year) program and in August WHO was awarded $9.9 million. Those are very big grants compared to what was available before. Some key problems could be: how are such projects managed, are the local advocates/organizations involved, what degree of transparency, accountability, good governance, evaluation, is required?
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisHow are the non-English speaking people be included
I have still to read one article about those "new" programs.
More info on http://blogsofbainbridge.typepad.com/
the complete url for the blog mentioned at end of the previous post should be:
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thishttp://blogsofbainbridge.typepad.com/africa
Here we go again ! Best remember, in it all, " Figures NEVER lie BUT LIARS figure and each side adds or deletes data to support THEIR view. Now, I do NOT pretend to say smoking is good for you, or its smoke(second hand). Yellow walls and ceilings TALK loads, BUT LET'S ATTACK THE PROBLEM; all chemicals sprayed on tobacco plants, genetic engineering of plants to produce MORE tar and NICOTINE, Chemicals used durring processing. All go back directly, and indirectly to the tobacco co.'s and no one will attack them directly, isn't POLITICALLY a good idea. As a previous commenter said, "FOLLOW THE MONEY tail" Thank you.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisYeh. Car ownership goes up -and lung cancer and heart disease rise. I don't mean to be overly cynical but a) anyone who says motor exhaust is not a major vector for diease lacks a highschool education and b) why are the cancer rates and the self admitted sketchy statistics not accounting for 1)tobacco has always been readily available in Africa and I very much doubt that usage has changed a great deal in 100yrs. 2) there is always a lack of true correlation of data when people with a personal interest in regulating independance get preachy. If we lose this level of luxury consumption in the industrialized world tobacco will certainly be king again and they'll go back to regulating sex.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisA) IF anyone wants to tell me motor exhaust is not a significant vector for disease they lack a highschool education. b)Tobacco has always been readily available in Africa and I doubt if usage has changed much in 100yrs.(filters of no filters)
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thiswhenever a body goes about controlling our lives for some scary excuse there is always a lame and misleading effort at correlating the facts. I will bet you money any increase in these problems is very slightly (the increase) due to Tobacco. When this horribly toppling luxury consumerism collapses Tobacco will again be King. Then they'll try to regulate sex or such.
Nothing worse for you than petroleum, sugar and red meat.
in the past 40yrs lung cancer incidence in USA has gone up 2pts. With the radical decline in tobacco use these years -something more harmful than tobacco in our air is indicated. what atmospheric contamination has increased substantialy?
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisTell me. how many communities -without a major and prominent industrial complex -could manufacture a repectable assault rifle? Isn't the elimination of military grade firearms totally within the capacity of industrialized nations. why are we picking on Tobacco? why dont' we put that money and effort into ending armed conflict?
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisTHE SHORTEST PATH TO WORLD PROSPERITY IS WORLD PEACE -TOBACCO IS A PEACE OF WORLD PEACE
How would you disarm the world? That statement is so naive and stupid. People like you thinks it starts with us disarming. You want the entire world to behave like Somalia pirates? That's what would happen if we disarmed.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisHow do YOU think pirates and insurgents get Arms. THE MANUFACTURERS SELL THEM TO THE INDEPENDANTS! -talk about naive.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisAs lung cancer has gone up 2pts in the past 40yrs -colon cancer -which previously surpassed lung cancer -has dropped 2pts. Salad anyone?
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisYour statement itself speaks of inequity being the source of violent action and armed conflict. Gross inequity. USA -internally our violence is due to the Gross Inequity in Our Society. Unfortunately we can't have prosperity without peace. peace is found in equity.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thiswhere do you think your pirates and insurgents get their fire arms and rockets. Industrial Manufacturers SELL ARMS TO INDEPENDANTS. the more arms they sell the more conflict and the more demand -both nationally and independantly. Democracys at war with eachother. none.
THE SHORTEST PATH TO WORLD PROSPERITY IS WORLD PEACE.
so -industry sells firearms -citizens without a clue carry guns in public -and i'm like some demon pariah cause i'm killing myself with Tobacco? Industry markets petroleum, sugar and red meat -known killers -and i'm special?
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thiswhat are you? a boyscout? Always be prepared? do you ever wonder what to do about what you can't prepare for/ what are you a control freak?
ONE MAN'S MEAT IS ANOTHER MAN'S POISON
Life has been pretty damn miserable. How 'bout You? But I could always light one up and step out of the moment and say'hey! I can take on that task" It's a good herb.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thislost my locus-
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisok check the statistics. deaths and injuries from tobacco use VS deaths and injuries from car wrecks.. and they worry about smoking. its a joke
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisI find it a bit perplexing that as soon as you mention one problem someone comes up with another they consider more difficult and/or more worthy of attemtion.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisThe fact is smoking tobacco is hazardous to the health of the smoker and innocent bystanders. The fact that we also have multinational weapons-making conglomerates who benefit from chaos and destruction does not make tobacco smoking any less insidious.
It is never and either or situation? We must do our best to eliminate war, while doing our best to get the nations to "beat their swords into ploughshares". There is everything right about seeking to educate people about the dangers of smoking tobacco.
And yes, there are some who would like to see marijuana legalized so that they can have another dangerous product with which they can destroy themselves. Others will fight back while at the same trying to bring about the total demise of smoking tobacco.
Nicotine is probably the most harmful and addictive drug commonly used by human beings. The tobacco companies are the most pernicious of all drug dealers and seem immune to any type of govermental intervention. The profits and payoffs have to be enormous.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisSecond-hand smoke contributes to the continuance of addiction & smoking should be banned in all public places including the outdoors itself . In many countries one cannot stroll down the street while drinking liquor or even beer, still beaches and parks are littered with cigarette butts.
If one must smoke they should be doing it in their own home or at least on their own property and the tax on these products should be doubled to help defray the cost of the medical treatment nercessary to hospitalize and care for its many victims.