Tobacco industry tactics to retail vendors in Sri Lanka
Background and challenges to implementation Mainly Tobacco industry depends on retail tobacco vendors. Community groups and heath people are empowered to minimize the availability of cigarettes in respective areas. Hence, Tobacco Company has started to lobby retail vendors for continuing selling cig...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
European Publishing
2018-03-01
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| Series: | Tobacco Induced Diseases |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.journalssystem.com/tid/Tobacco-industry-tactics-to-retail-vendors-in-Sri-Lanka,84290,0,2.html |
| Summary: | Background and challenges to implementation
Mainly Tobacco industry depends on retail tobacco vendors. Community
groups and heath people are empowered to minimize the availability of cigarettes
in respective areas. Hence, Tobacco Company has started to lobby retail vendors
for continuing selling cigarettes.
Intervention or response
A study was
carried out by ADIC with cigarette retail vendors in Hambantota city. A structured
questioner and observation were used as data collection methods. Trained field officers interviewed 31 retail
tobacco vendors. Questions were related to knowledge of harm done by cigarette
and attitude on Tobacco Company. Observation
was used to identify cigarette promotions inside retail shops.
Results and lessons learnt
Result reveled
that the main reason (25 out of 31 responds) for cigarette selling is as an
essential item of a shop. Even cigarette profit is comparative to low it helps
to sell other goods. 8 Vendors stated that they had participated conferences organized
by Tobacco Company. Tobacco company educated vendors on what benefit the
business could got by selling cigarettes.
Another
strategy has been identified during the study. Tobacco Company has been introduced
award system for cigarette vendors. It is named as " Abisheka " (anointed vendors). Six
cigarette vendors named as anointed vendors. Those vendors got certificates and
privilege cards for business.
Attitude
regarding cigarette business examined at the study. 18 vendors of 31 did
justification of harm done by cigarette because they made argument that other
product may harm. They did not believe
tobacco industry do marketing to children majority of responds (77%) said that
smoking was adult choice.
Cigarette
promotions could be identified in different ways because tobacco promotion was prohibited.
We found that promotional item such as board was displayed as a vendor's
message. Awarded shops got colourfull cashier point and showcase for cigarettes.
Conclusions and key recommendations
Tobacco industry
cheats vendors as Trojans to continuing cigarette selling. |
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| ISSN: | 1617-9625 |