ATN condemns Tobacco Industry�s campaign

Anti-Tobacco Network (ATN) Botswana has condemned the tobacco industry Youth Smoking Prevention campaign, which they say deceptively entices children to their harmful tobacco products.

In a press statement released last week, ATN criticised the irresponsible conduct of, and fatal deception by British American Tobacco Botswana (BATB) stating that it was a subsidiary of the global UK-based tobacco giant British American Tobacco, which is actively engaged in a campaign created to undermine and compete with more effective youth smoking prevention campaigns sponsored by the Government and non-governmental organisations.

“In line with the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) global treaty, of which Botswana is a Party to, the ATN asserts that the industry be prohibited from involvement in any youth, public education, or other tobacco control initiative, and calls upon the Botswana Confederation of Commerce Industry and Manpower (BOCCIM) and on its affiliates to reassess their partnership with the tobacco industry,” it stated. ATN also stated that the BATB youth outreach campaign specifically breached the provisions of the Control of Smoking Act and deceptively advertises cigarettes in violation of Botswana’s Anti-Tobacco Legislation through the planned distribution of more than 300,000 branded stickers, posters, t- shirts and caps during the two-month campaign.

Editor's Comment
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The contest had 10 beautiful young girls as finalists and unfortunately only one could wear the crown.The judges picked Anicia Gaothuse. To all those who feel their contestant should have won ahead of Anicia for whatever reason, hardly; the judges found Anicia to be the best among the best, so desist from disrespecting our newly crowned queen on social media or anywhere else, for that matter! Each of the 10 beautiful young women had supporters...

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