Smoking and tobacco-related disease in NSW an agenda for control
by Dr Andrew Penman
October 1999
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Summary
This report provides an overview of the evidence supporting
the Cancer Council and its partners’ case for a substantial
enhancement of efforts in tobacco control.
The evidence demonstrates that substantial improvement can
occur in overall smoking prevalence and consumption of tobacco
by applying existing knowledge and techniques. Failure to
apply this knowledge threatens to erode gains achieved over
the last two decades in tobacco control. The evidence effectively
despatches myths supported by the tobacco industry that question
the effectiveness of tobacco control measures and promote
ineffective measures.
Although the production and sale of tobacco involve significant
economic activity, the benefits are overstated by the tobacco
industry. There is no compensation for the epidemic of premature
death caused by tobacco.
Assertions that the implementation of effective measures
to control tobacco will lead to adverse effects on industries
such as hotels and other hospitality industries not involved
in tobacco production and marketing are without foundation
and are refuted by the evidence. Furthermore, the tobacco
industry can reduce the impact of control in the early phases
by adjusting prices. In subsequent phases, active assistance
for industry adjustment will need to be considered.
Accordingly, the Board of the NSW Cancer Council adopts the
following position
statement on tobacco control.
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