For immediate release: Tuesday 17th July 2001 (updated 21 July)
ASHRejects Tobacco Industry Claims for the Economic Benefits of Smoking
ASHhas dismissed as “irelevant and misleading” a report from tobacco companyPhilip Morris to the Czech Government, advising them that smoking contributesmore revenue to the government in tax and reduced pension payouts than it costsin treating smoking related disease.
See report and ASH critique here
Clive Bates, Director of ASH, said:
“Youcan pick over and question the Philip Morris analysis for as long as you like -seeing whether they have included costs such as those related to problems withpregnancies in smokers and the cost to employers of increased absences, butreally the whole exercise is repellent and should be dismissed. Philip Morrisis whispering in the ear of the Czech Government, saying ‘look, we can help youdeal with those expensive old people, so why don't you go easy on controllingsmoking?'
“Mostof what we do as a society is geared up to giving people happy and healthy lives.We do this even if it costs money. Philip Morris is offering the Czech Republic anextermination service for the recently retired.
“Assoon as you place any value on a life, this kind of economic analysis fallsapart. For example, the UK Government justifies spending on road safety byvaluing each life saved at about £1m. If this figure was used for smokers, itwould place a value of £120bn on the lives of the 120,000 smokers who die eachyear in the UK. It is much better just not to go down the route of using thissort of analysis. “
Ends
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AmandaSandford 020 7739 5902 or 079 60670120
