News

US makes tobacco top target

Recent events in the US have been keeping tobacco near the top of the American health agenda — in marked contrast to Britain, where complacency still rules supreme.

This year began with controversy in the US over leaked reports that the R J Reynolds Tobacco Company planned to launch two new cigarette brands specifically targeted at groups that have previously been resistant to anti-smoking health warnings — young working-class women, and blacks.

US health secretary Dr Louis Sullivan, the only black in the Bush cabinet, condemned the leaked strategy as ‘outrageous’. He demanded cancellation of the plans, and Reynolds promptly withdrew.

Earlier this year, the publication of the US government report Smoking and Health showed that 390,000 American died from smoking-related illnesses in 1989 — over 15% of all US deaths. In comparison, the report pointed out that 50,000 people are killed on US roads annually.

A few days after the release of these figures, a new ban came into effect prohibiting smoking on all flights within the continental United States. However, US government policy on tobacco is far from consistent given the political power of the southern tobacco states and the contribution of booming cigarette exports towards improving the huge national budget deficit.

The US health secretary has given little support to a proposal before the US Senate to establish a new Centre for Tobacco Products, with a suggested 185m budget, which would lead the federal assault on smoking via regulation, research and health education. Currently, the focus of anti-smoking activity in Dr Sullivan’s department is the Office of Smoking and Health, with an annual budget of $3.8m, due to fall in 1991 to $3.4m. The tobacco industry spends $2.6bn a year on promotion.

Meanwhile in the UK, a move to extend controls on smoking in public places was defeated in the House of Commons by 131 votes to 31. In contrast, in the Republic of Ireland new laws have increased the number of places where smoking is now illegal.