Smoking remains a major public health challenge in South Africa, and across the globe.
The World Health Organisation estimates that the number of smokers in the world (1.1 billion) will not materially change by 2025. This tells us that, while a smoker’s best choice will always be to quit nicotine and tobacco altogether, the reality is that many will not.
In many countries around the world, smokers are faced with very
limited choices — either quitting entirely, or continuing to smoke. What about
those who fail to quit? Should they just be left to continue smoking?
At Philip Morris South Africa (PMSA) we don’t believe so. It’s
clearly time for a new conversation and common sense approach on how to reduce
smoking rates. Science and technology have enabled the creation of better
alternatives to smoking. While these products are not risk-free and they
contain nicotine, which is addictive, scientific research shows they are a much
better choice than continued smoking.
We
believe that a smoke-free future is possible for our country, and the world.
Not only do we believe in a smoke-free future, we are taking active steps to
bring it about with the launch of a local campaign called “Unsmoke South
Africa”.
To “unsmoke”
means to rid smoke from your life. The best way to unsmoke is to quit
cigarettes and nicotine completely. For those who won’t quit, the next best
choice is to switch to better, smoke-free alternatives – a choice that deserves
to be made on the basis of accurate and non-misleading information.
This has been a central focus for Philip Morris International (PMI). As one of
the world’s largest tobacco companies, PMI is focusing
its business on smoke-free products to replace cigarettes as soon as possible. Our goal is
to bring together a community of people committed to making a difference, and
accelerating change to the benefit of public health.
To
this end, PMI commissioned a major international study by independent research
firm Povaddo. The survey — conducted in 13 countries among adults aged 21 to 74
— sheds light on how people can work together to address this important global public
health issue.
The full report was released in the form of a White Paper titled: “Unsmoke – Clearing the Way for Change”.
The
White Paper reveals that, while there is demand for governments to act in bringing
down smoking rates, regulation and taxation alone will not succeed in making
countries smoke-free.
In
total, 83% of respondents believe that a new conversation is needed to reduce
smoking rates.
And
more than two-thirds of respondents support the idea of tobacco companies working
with governments, regulators and public health experts to ensure that smokers
have accurate information about alternatives such as e-cigarettes and
heat-not-burn tobacco products.
There is a
growing body of evidence that we can achieve a public health benefit using
traditional tobacco control methods alongside a harm reduction strategy
involving smoke-free alternatives.
So what would such an approach look like in South Africa?
It starts
with differentiated regulation for products that are deemed appropriate for the
protection of the public health.
The burning of tobacco is
responsible for the production and transfer of the vast majority of toxicants
that experts agree are the primary cause of smoking-related disease. Combustible
tobacco should therefore be subject to the strictest regulation.
By not
burning tobacco, smoke-free alternatives don’t create smoke and their aerosols
should contain fewer and lower levels of harmful chemicals compared to
cigarette smoke. They should be regulated differently from the most harmful
forms of tobacco consumption. This will enable South Africa’s adult smokers to have
access to accurate, non-misleading information about less harmful alternatives
to smoking.
Combined
with ensuring that quality and safety standards are met for these smoke-free
alternatives, and youth access is prevented, through this approach we can lay
the foundation for a smoke-free future in South Africa — where those who don’t
smoke, don’t start. Where those who smoke quit as their best choice. And where
those who don’t quit are empowered to switch to better alternatives.
For change
like this to happen, it is necessary for governments, consumers and civil society
to all play a role. We need to move the needle on reducing smoking rates by taking
concerted action.
A
smoke-free South Africa is possible, and it’s time to raise the level of
conversation on how to achieve this for the sake of millions of South African
adult smokers and their friends and families.
Marcelo
Nico is managing director of Philip Morris South Africa
About Philip Morris International: Delivering a smoke-free future
Philip Morris International (PMI) is leading a transformation in the tobacco industry to create a smoke-free future and ultimately replace cigarettes with smoke-free products to the benefit of adults who would otherwise continue to smoke, society, the company and its shareholders. PMI is a leading international tobacco company engaged in the manufacture and sale of cigarettes, smoke-free products and associated electronic devices and accessories, and other nicotine-containing products in markets outside the U.S. PMI is building a future on a new category of smoke-free products that, while not risk-free, are a much better choice than continuing to smoke. Through multidisciplinary capabilities in product development, state-of-the-art facilities and scientific substantiation, PMI aims to ensure that its smoke-free products meet adult consumer preferences and rigorous regulatory requirements. For more information, please visit http://www.pmi.com and www.pmiscience.com.