Tobacco industry successfully prevented tobacco control legislation in Argentina

Abstract

Objective:To evaluate how transnational tobacco companies, working through their local affiliates, influenced tobacco control policymaking in Argentina between 1966 and 2005.Methods:Analysis of internal tobacco industry documents, local newspapers and magazines, internet resources, bills from the Argentinean National Congress Library, and interviews with key individuals in Argentina.Results:Transnational tobacco companies (Philip Morris International, British American Tobacco, Lorillard, and RJ Reynolds International) have been actively influencing public health policymaking in Argentina since the early 1970s. As in other countries, in 1977 the tobacco industry created a weak voluntary self regulating code to avoid strong legislated restrictions on advertising. In addition to direct lobbying by the tobacco companies, these efforts involved use of third party allies, public relations campaigns, and scientific and medical consultants. During the 1980s and 1990s efforts to pass comprehensive tobacco control legislation intensified, but the organised tobacco industry prevented its enactment. There has been no national activity to decrease exposure to secondhand smoke.Conclusions:The tobacco industry, working through its local subsidiaries, has subverted meaningful tobacco control legislation in Argentina using the same strategies as in the USA and other countries. As a result, tobacco control in Argentina remains governed by a national law that is weak and restricted in its scope.

Tobacco industry sociological programs to influence public beliefs about smoking

“…In June 1977, RJR, British American Tobacco (BAT), Philip Morris (PM), Imperial, Rothmans, Reentsma and Gallaher tobacco companies (the seven tobacco companies that did business in multiple countries) CEOs met in Bath, England "to determine whether the industry, in the face of increasing pressures from anti-smoking bodies around the world, could … determine a united approach to possible future action" on social acceptability problem (ICOSI, 1978b) in what became "Operation Berkshire" (Francey & Chapman, 2000;ICOSI, 1978a;No author, 1979aNo author, , 1979bNo author, , 1980aSebrie, Barnoya, Perez-Stable, & Glantz, 2005 (ICOSI, 1979a;No author, 1979a).…”

Gender, age, social disadvantage and quitting smoking in Argentina and Uruguay

“…This data coincides with trends observed in recent years showing greater progress in Uruguay than in Argentina, as it relates to many areas of tobacco control. Recent trends also showed intensified tobacco industry endeavours to postpone or undermine tobacco control legislation and policy in Argentina [20,21,22]. However, in both countries, quit rates were higher compared to middle-income European countries like Romania and Poland where one third of the people who have ever smoked gave up smoking [14,23].…”

Secondhand Smoke Exposure in Public Places in Guatemala: Comparison with other Latin American Countries

“…Guatemala, Costa Rica, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Venezuela, and Ecuador were included in the project. The most notable case, thus far, of the industry's interference with tobacco legislation is Argentina, where in the early 1990s, tobacco industry consultant, Dr. Carlos Alvarez, successfully lobbied then President Carlos Menem to veto a strong antitobacco law (21,23).…”