Philip Morris: South Africa's Tobacco Ban Missed a Chance for Safer Alternatives
The March-announced ban on tobacco products and alcohol regrettably also included safer alternatives such as vaping and snus. Naturally, this angered many public health experts and vaping advocates. Asanda Gcoyi, CEO of the Vapour Products Association of
The ban on tobacco products and alcohol sales announced in March regrettably included safer alternatives such as e-cigarettes and snuff. Naturally, this has angered many public health experts and vaping advocates. Asanda Gcoyi, CEO of the South African Vaping Products Association (VPASA), reiterated that treating cigarettes and safer alternatives in the same way would lead to serious issues.<\/span><\/div>
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Most importantly, according to international health experts, Gcoyi added that another concern is that e-cigarettes are returning to smoking or purchasing e-cigarette products on the black market. “My other concern is the illegal market. People are buying vape juice from unknowing shops, and we’ve heard it’s sold in spaza shops, with some saying people are mixing juices at home, which is very dangerous because they are just mixing things without the right environment.”<\/span><\/div>
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The tobacco ban has pushed South Africans into the black market.<\/span><\/div>
And that is exactly what is happening. A recent study conducted by the University of Cape Town has proven these predictions to be correct.<\/span><\/div>
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Subsequently, local tobacco companies responded by suing the government, arguing that the ban infringes on citizens' rights and that the ban will ultimately lead to significant tax revenue losses and an increase in the illegal trade of tobacco products. On the other hand, no one likes the strategies of big tobacco, so they are naturally labeled as hypocritical strategies.<\/span><\/div>
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The lockdown could have been used to promote safer choices.<\/span><\/div>
Meanwhile, PMSA issued a statement regarding the ban, stating that it was an opportunity to encourage smokers to switch to safer alternatives. Phillip Morris SA MD Marcelo Nico said: “The blanket ban on all tobacco and e-cigarette products undermines the efforts of those adult smokers who are turning to better alternatives such as heated tobacco products and e-cigarettes.”<\/span><\/div>
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“It also missed a huge opportunity to encourage all South African adults who would otherwise continue smoking to switch to smoke-free alternatives. Although scientifically proven smoke-free products are not without risk and contain addictive nicotine, they are a better choice than continuing to smoke.”<\/span><\/div>
