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Jun 6th, 2008 - 10:03:29
The first is that young people, especially young women, are at the crux of any social issue that has vaguely moral overtones. The second is that advertising, especially on television, is a corrosive influence that seduces people into liking things they should abhor. The third is that symbolic government action, in this case, ratification of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, is the first prerequisite for social progress. Lest we choke in a fog of anti-tobacco propaganda, we should weigh these cliches carefully. First, numerically and proportionally, adult males are the largest group of smokers, the heaviest smokers and also the group whose smoking has the broadest economic effects. Moreover, middle-aged men are the group at most immediate risk of strokes, heart attacks, cancers and other smoking-related diseases. So, arguably, middle-aged men deserve priority in tobacco policy planning. In fact, whatever policy is adopted, it should take into account the needs of all affected parties -- farmers, cigarette makers, distributors, consumers young and old and non-smokers. It should not be oriented only to young women, just because they are thought to have "sexy" lifestyles, to offer emotional leverage to propose tighter restrictions, or to be proper objects for control. Second, regarding advertising, people are not idiots who will buy any old junk just because they see it advertised. Plenty of companies have tried to promote their way into, for example, the instant noodles market, but failed for a simple reason; their noodles tasted like soap. If people buy cigarettes it is because they enjoy them. Of course, anti-smoking campaigners assert that the chance of enjoyment offered by cigarette companies is fraudulent compared to the chance to become a good-looking health statistic. But if some people eventually decide that the pleasure is worth the risk, then anti-smoking advocates should respect their choice, not demonize tobacco companies for "fooling" people into following the path to paradise. Third, on the government's role, the Jakarta administration already enacted a bylaw restricting smoking in many public areas. Although flawed and poorly enforced, it does in theory protect passive smokers who are the main victims of cigarette smoking. However, most smokers ignore it. Thus, before bewailing the government's failure to enact further legislation, which will purportedly have some effect years in the future, it is essential to ask why a majority of the population disrespect the regulations already in place. Lack of enforcement is one aspect. Ignorance is probably another. But the solution to ignorance is discussion and objective information, not hypocrisy and propaganda. © Copyright 2006 by DiscountCigarettesBox.Com Top of Page |
