Fierce Lobbying Continues in War over Tobacco Display and Vending Machines.

June 8, 2009 - PRLog -- A committee of the Scottish Parliament has been hearing evidence in Stage 1 of the Tobacco and Primary Medical Services Bill,(1) which proposes to ban the use of tobacco vending machines and the display of tobacco products. The British Medical Association has declared to the media that many of its opponents in the debate are tainted by tobacco funding and that the primary concern of these organisations is financial,(2) and has urged the Scottish Government ‘not to be swayed’ by their evidence.

Freedom To Choose (Scotland) has already published evidence that Tobacco Control activities throughout the world are heavily backed by pharmaceutical interests who have an enormous stake in the war against the tobacco industry.(3)

The Health & Sport Committee has received written responses from various organisations, including those with vested interests on both sides of the debate. It has also received well-argued responses from independent, self-funded organisations including civil liberty organisations and a retailers’ alliance.

“Ignoring the well-known vested interests of Tobacco Control organisations, the BMA in Scotland is bending over backwards to describe voices opposed to the introduction of display bans as tobacco industry stooges,” claims Eddie Douthwaite, chairman of Freedom To Choose (Scotland). “This is misleading. Most of the independent organisations opposed to this Bill were not invited to provide their evidence.”

Of those organisations opposing the Bill, the majority invited at Stage 1 of the Bill were those known to be funded by the tobacco industry (including those named by the BMA). These parties were asked to declare the extent of their tobacco funding by Ian McKee MSP.(4)

“The Committee has chosen to listen to stakeholders from both sides of the argument and has overlooked the centre view of non-aligned organisations putting forward the views of the public and the consumer,” continues Eddie Douthwaite.

“The fact that this tactic was used appears more than coincidental to many. Why were more independent organisations not called to give oral evidence at this stage? How can they make themselves heard with this pick and choose system of law-making to suit the agenda of the day? This is not democracy in practice.”

Health Minister Shona Robison has already declared, even before completion of Stage 1 of the Bill, that the Scottish Government is committed to banning the use of vending machines,(5) in spite of evidence that there are several different ways to ensure age-restricted sales from vending machines.

The Health Minister will present evidence at the final oral evidence session, to take place on Wednesday, 10 June.

References:
1 Tobacco and Primary Medical Services (Scotland) Bill -
http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/s3/bills/22-TobacPrimMe...
2 Why Scotland Needs Further Legislation on Tobacco -
http://www.medilexicon.com/medicalnews.php?newsid=151923
3 International Tobacco Control Corruption Exposed -
http://www.pr-inside.com/international-tobacco-control-co...
4(Col 1976) Health and Sport Committee Official Report 20 May 2009 -
http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/s3/committees/hs/or-09/he09-1602.htm
5 Vending Cigarettes -
http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/opinion/Vending-cigarettes.5293320.jp

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