Philip Morris Accused Of Hypocrisy Over Anti-Smoking Ad

hypocrisy over anti-smoking ad

One of the world’s biggest tobacco firms, Philip Morris, has been accused of “staggering hypocrisy” over its new ad campaign that urges smokers to quit.

The Marlboro maker said the move was “an important next step” in its aim to “ultimately stop selling cigarettes”.

But Cancer Research said the firm was simply trying to promote its smoking alternatives, such as heated tobacco.

“This is a staggering hypocrisy,” it said, pointing out the firm still promotes smoking outside the UK.

“The best way Philip Morris could help people to stop smoking is to stop making cigarettes,” George Butterworth, Cancer Research UK’s tobacco policy manager said.

The charity said smoking was the leading preventable cause of cancer and it encouraged people to switch away completely from smoking, including through the use of e-cigarettes.

Health charity Action on Smoking and Health (Ash) also criticised the campaign – which is called Hold My Light and has been launched in a four-page wraparound on Monday’s Daily Mirror – saying it was a way for Philip Morris to get around the UK’s anti-tobacco advertising rules.

There is also a campaign video, which shows a young woman negotiating a Mission Impossible-style room in order to hand her cigarette lighter over to a group of friends, who are supporting her in a bid to give up smoking.

“The fact of the matter is that it can no longer do that in the UK, we’re a dark market where all advertising, promotion and sponsorship is banned, and cigarettes are in plain packs.

“So instead Philip Morris is promoting the company name which is inextricably linked with Marlboro,” she said.

Philip Morris has said previously that it wants to achieve a “smoke-free” future.

Like many tobacco firms, Philip Morris is moving towards a focus on new products to replace cigarettes as the number of smokers in the UK continues to decline.

In the UK, it markets several alternatives to cigarettes, including a heated tobacco product, Iqos.

It also owns the Nicocig, Vivid and Mesh e-cigarette brands.

‘It takes time’

The firm’s managing director Peter Nixon said its new advertising campaign was “about supporting smokers in finding alternatives”.

In an unusual move, the Daily Mirror made a reference in its editorial column to the advertising feature which envelops the paper. It said it was “pleased to back the campaign”.

The new Tobacco Control Plan aimed to cut smoking rates from 15.5% to 12% of the population by 2022.