illegal promotions criticised

Date: 20 August 2010

Press Statement from ASH Ireland

ASH IRELAND SERIOUSLY CONCERNED ABOUT DISTRIBUTION OF ‘FREE CIGARETTES’ at TOBACCO INDUSTRY PROMOTIONS

ASH Ireland has recently received a number of complaints about the tobacco industry engaging in promotions, which includes the distribution of free cigarettes, - which is illegal. ASH Ireland has brought this most serious matter to the attention of the Minister for Health and the Office of Tobacco Control. The promotions about which the complaints have been received were held in Temple Bar and at the recent Oxegen Festival.

Dr Angie Brown of ASH Ireland said today, We have been made aware in recent weeks of promotions being organised by the tobacco industry, which have included the availability of free cigarettes. At one such event employees of the hospitality industry, taken to an event at a Temple Bar venue, were each given a wrist band by the organisers (tobacco industry) and when this was presented to the proprietor they were each given 20 free cigarettes. We were also informed that at the recent Oxygen festival, female hostesses, operating in the artists’ reception area, were presenting free cigarettes from trays to all present. Both of these promotions are illegal under the ‘tobacco health’ legislation. We have also been made aware that one of the Irish Tobacco companies had some level of a commercial relationship with the promoters of Oxyegen, which facilitated just one brand of cigarettes being available for sale to those in attendance. This type of activity amounts to a massive promotion of one brand of cigarettes to a large young audience. The targeting of music festivals by the tobacco industry is of immense concern and should not be encouraged - or indeed to the commercial benefit of festival promoters.

ASH Ireland is concerned that the tobacco industry will use every means possible, with the vast profits at their disposal, to bridge the gap in marketing created by the removal of tobacco advertising and promotion from retail outlets. For each smoker who dies, the tobacco industry must recruit another young person and ensure this person becomes addicted. When this process occurs and it can occur very quickly, because of the highly addictive nature of nicotine the tobacco industry has an addicted customer for life. The fact that this person will most likely have serious health issues and die because of this addiction does not seem to create any real concerns for the highly profitable tobacco industry.

Dr Brown went on the say, 'It is imperative that the Government take action when it has information that the tobacco industry is breaking the law and must look again at the methodology and practice used by this industry in targeting our young people'


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For contact: Ash Ireland - 01 2310521