Tobacco Firms Criticised for Using E-Cigarettes to Rebrand

Tobacco Firms Criticised for Using E-Cigarettes to Rebrand

Major tobacco companies are under fire for using e-cigarettes as tools to clean up their damaged reputations. Industry leaders like Philip Morris International (PMI) and British American Tobacco (BAT) boast ambitious commitments to a “smoke-free future” and a “better tomorrow”, but critics argue these claims are largely empty rhetoric designed to deflect attention from the ongoing harms caused by their products.

E-cigarettes are being marketed as healthier alternatives, with an emphasis on “consumer choice” and “freedom”. Yet this messaging has raised alarm, particularly as vaping among England’s 11- to 18-year-olds has more than doubled, now sitting at 8.6% since 2021. Health experts warn that these narratives downplay the addictive nature and risks of nicotine use, shifting responsibility onto consumers while the companies continue to profit from dependency.

Adding to the hypocrisy, these same firms are lobbying against stricter tobacco controls and still heavily invest in traditional cigarettes. Critics argue this two-faced strategy perpetuates public confusion, making it harder to tackle the global health crisis caused by smoking and vaping. While tobacco giants declare they are “transforming” their businesses, their actions reveal that financial gain remains their true priority – regardless of the public’s health.

Tobacco companies say they’re changing, but what they do shows a different story. They still put money into regular cigarettes and fight against tougher rules, which shows they care more about making money than about people’s health.

Source: The Conversation

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.