BAT Delivers “Critical Year” Keynote
BAT’s Chief Marketing Officer Kingsley Wheaton called 2021 “a critical year for progress” for tobacco harm reduction as he addressed the Global Tobacco and Nicotine Forum
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by Dave Cross
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At GTFN, BAT’s Director of Scientific Research called for “robust scientific data and evidence-based policies” and Marina Bellini, the company’s Director of Digital and Information said “the role of digital is key to our A Better Tomorrow™ transformation – and to that of our wider industry.”
In his keynote, Kingsley Wheaton told delegates: “I believe that now, more than ever, we need events such as GTNF. Events that allow us to come together and discuss some of the most important issues we face. For instance, how can we make a difference to society by embedding and driving tobacco harm reduction. We have heard about some of the challenges that tobacco harm reduction faces - yet despite these, we must push for more progress – more than that – we need accelerated progress.”
Wheaton believes 2021 is a is a critical year, “we know that prohibition does not work”.
“Notwithstanding genuine progress in tobacco harm reduction acceptance, we see some countries moving to ban or heavily restrict access to vapour products, despite the available scientific evidence. If the WHO tries to advance further, restrictive measures for New Category products at COP9 in November, that could seriously undermine the progress being made in making reduced risk tobacco and nicotine products widely available to smokers.
“I want to be clear. My words are designed to highlight what I believe could be achieved. They are about Tobacco Harm Reduction. This is neither a ‘battle’ to be won nor lost. It is about science, consumer choice and the need for pragmatic solutions. If we fail to come together, determined to find solutions, there will be no winners.
“It would be hard to imagine anything more damaging to global tobacco harm reduction efforts than further exclusion of these alternative products. These products are not entirely risk free, of course, and are addictive, yet based on the weight of evidence and a complete switch from cigarettes, they are reduced risk.”
Understandably, many people are reluctant to listen to messages coming from the tobacco industry, but anyone interested in vaping heard from Wheaton a message that resonated.
“Responsible, science-backed and well-thought-through regulation is essential to ensuring that adult consumers can enjoy reduced-risk products with confidence, while governments and health bodies can be assured of product safety and quality.
“There is evidence that following bans, vapour consumers can revert to smoking – undoing the good work of category development and its evolution. Governments should be revoking bans on alternative products, not introducing them.”
Dave Cross
Journalist at POTVDave is a freelance writer; with articles on music, motorbikes, football, pop-science, vaping and tobacco harm reduction in Sounds, Melody Maker, UBG, AWoL, Bike, When Saturday Comes, Vape News Magazine, and syndicated across the Johnston Press group. He was published in an anthology of “Greatest Football Writing”, but still believes this was a mistake. Dave contributes sketches to comedy shows and used to co-host a radio sketch show. He’s worked with numerous start-ups to develop content for their websites.
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