Daily Lessons from Life 15 August 2012 - WHO hails Australia tobacco packaging ban

"WHO hails Australia tobacco packaging ban - AFP Aug 15, 2012

GENEVA, Switzerland - The World Health Organisation on Wednesday welcomed the decision by Australia's High Court to dismiss a legal challenge against plain cigarette packaging and hoped it would have a "domino effect" in other countries.

"The industry's attempt to derail this effective tobacco control measure failed," said the UN health agency's director general Margaret Chan.

Four companies led by British American Tobacco (BAT) had challenged Australia's plans to enforce the sale of tobacco products in plain packaging from December 2012.


They claimed it infringed their intellectual property rights by banning brands and trademarks from packets, and was unconstitutional. But Australia's High Court on Wednesday ruled against the challenge.

Chan pointed out that other countries had been watching the outcome of the hearing and were considering similar measures.


"With so many countries lined up to ride on Australia's coattails, what we hope to see is a domino effect for the good of public health," she said.

"Plain packaging is a highly effective way to counter industry's ruthless marketing tactics," added the WHO chief."

What took them so long to decide on this really! Some may questioned. Yet, such is the politic of big business and big money! Just be glad that the Aussie has led the way here!!

Lessons for me are:

1. freedom of choice and speeches are over touted. If the freedom to get sick is that the person goes away peacefully and without burdening anyone else, maybe it is plausible though very unhuman-like since human being are supposed to take care of their old and sick and not forsake them!;

2. the medical costs and social costs associated with taking care of patients due to smoking - long term - are facts. These are real. So, allowing the tobacco companies free reign to 'market' their products, since the world has not decided to totally ban cigarettes, is like saying: we don't really care what damages smoking can do to people and society! This CANNOT be allowed;

3. having said that, there is still the freedom of choice issue we have to deal with. For me, IF the smokers is of legal age, have been warned sufficiently about the likely detrimental effects of smoking, have signed OFF that he or she or they will NOT burden society with their medical treatment costs and the human emotional cost, let them choose. It is their life and their health.

Trouble is, even with such a declaration, I have the niggering feeling that the smokers' family and friends will STILL take care of them. They then will demand that the STATE takes some responsibility too.

Still a no-win situation but at least the potential smokers have LESS chance of claiming they were NOT protected by the anti-tobacco laws - marketing materials included!