Cigarette sellers should be more socially responsible

I refer to the article “Ban on flavoured tobacco products will hurt business: Retailers” (Nov 26), which reported on the findings of a survey on one of the proposed moves in a suite of tobacco-control measures that has been put up for public consultation.

From a business perspective, one can understand that a ban on any kind of tobacco products, be it flavoured or unflavoured, will hurt retailers.

But between banning flavoured tobacco and causing harm to first-hand or second-hand smokers’ health, the lesser evil is to ban flavoured tobacco products. Society has more to gain from such a move.

Instead of trying to lobby its way against a possible ban on certain tobacco products, the industry should actively self-regulate itself and engage in socially-responsible business conduct.

We have moved on as a society. We want better accountability from businesses and expect them to act responsibly. Rather than trying to conduct more surveys and studies to advance its private interests, the industry should sit down together to find solutions that support wider public interests.

If indeed flavoured cigarettes are the most preferred cigarettes among smokers, perhaps imposing a very high consumption tax on such products would be a better choice for the authorities to employ, so that tax receipts can be used to finance public health education on the ills of smoking.