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May 24, 2019
Philip Morris International: Why World No Tobacco Day Should Be World No Smoking Day
People who smoke and those who care about them deserve to learn about smoke-free alternatives to cigarettes
LAUSANNE,
It is clear that despite the well-known health risks associated with
smoking, many people continue to smoke.
“For people who will otherwise continue to smoke, WHO is in the perfect position to drive switching from cigarettes to sensible alternatives. A policy that informs people about those alternatives—in essence, a World No Smoking Day—would reduce smoking prevalence to a far greater extent and at a much faster rate than the existing suite of tobacco-control measures alone,” said André Calantzopoulos, PMI's Chief Executive Officer. “People who smoke deserve a sensible plan that takes full account of better alternatives to cigarettes. For our part, we’re determined to deliver a smoke-free future through innovations that stand up to scientific scrutiny and that meet consumer needs.”
PMI has already committed
“Our short-term ambition is that one out of three of our consumers, 40 million men and women who smoke, will have switched to better alternatives by 2025. Ultimately, we want to be in a position to stop selling cigarettes entirely. However, we need the support of governments and the public health community to make this happen in as short a time as possible. I believe that instead of just designating one day as World No Tobacco Day, we should promote every day as World No Smoking Day,” said Calantzopoulos.
PMI is proposing that governments and authorities investigate thoroughly how scientifically substantiated smoke-free products can be used as a complementary public health strategy alongside smoking prevention and cessation. With appropriate government control and oversight, these products can have a meaningful and positive impact on public health.
To learn more about PMI’s views on World No Tobacco Day, visit http://www.pmi.com/world-no-smoking-day-2018.
PMI commenced publication in national and international media on
We are a leading international tobacco company engaged in the
manufacture and sale of cigarettes and other nicotine-containing
products in markets outside
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180530005097/en/
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