ASH response to Philip Morris' report to the Czech Government on the economic benefits of smoking
For immediate release: Tuesday 17th July 2001 (updated 21 July)
ASH Rejects Tobacco Industry Claims for the Economic Benefits of Smoking
ASH has dismissed as “irelevant and misleading” a report from tobacco company Philip Morris to the Czech Government, advising them that smoking contributes more revenue to the government in tax and reduced pension pay-outs than it costs in treating smoking related disease.
See 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 with pregnancies in smokers and the cost to employers of increased absences, but really the whole exercise is repellent and should be dismissed. Philip Morris is whispering in the ear of the Czech Government, saying ‘look, we can help you deal with those expensive old people, so why don't you go easy on controlling smoking?'
“Most of 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 an extermination service for the recently retired.
“As soon as you place any value on a life, this kind of economic analysis falls apart. For example, the UK Government justifies spending on road safety by valuing each life saved at about £1m. If this figure was used for smokers, it would place a value of £120bn on the lives of the 120,000 smokers who die each year in the UK. It is much better just not to go down the route of using this sort of analysis. “
Ends
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