The implementation of public health interventions that regulate the use of tobacco has been difficult to achieve even though they are cost effective and have been shown to prevent suffering and premature deaths. The tobacco industry uses an array of strategies to oppose these public health interventions.

The tobacco industry works to protect their profits by promoting individual responsibility, recommending ineffective voluntary regulation and interventions, advertising educational activities that directly or indirectly promote the continued use of their products, and by minimising concerns about the health impact of consumption of their product.

These industries also conduct Corporate Political Activity in order to shape government policy. Corporate Political Activity is when corporations or industry groups influence government policy development in ways that protect their profits and ensure favourable outcomes for the industry.  Corporate Political Activity includes financial strategies in the form of political donations and extensive lobbying, submissions to state and federal government bodies, interpersonal tactics used with politicians and public servants, and strategies to shape public opinion.

Check out the ‘What to Look Out For’ section - there you will find information about the mechanisms used by the tobacco industry to oppose public health interventions and examples of times they have been used.

Also, for quick info check out our Tobacco Fact Sheets