- As the globe recognises both World Vape Day and World No Tobacco Day this month, BAT calls for regulatory framework that encourages adult smokers to switch to smokeless alternatives.
- South Africa’s adult smoking prevalence is growing; studies suggest switching exclusively to reduced risk¹ alternatives could significantly reduce smoking related disease associated with smoking.
- BAT advocates for regulatory principles focused on adult-only access, product quality, and enforcement, while investing in smokeless products.
BAT, a leading tobacco and nicotine products company, publicly re-affirmed its position that no underage person should use nicotine products. As such, the Company has called for a regulatory framework in South Africa that encourages adult smokers to switch to smokeless alternatives and that facilitates the robust prevention of underage access.
The smoking prevalence among adults in South Africa is 27.4%², which seems to be growing. This is partly attributable to the rampant sale of illicit cigarettes across the country, which BAT South Africa’s internal estimates put at around 70% of the market. More than 9.7 million² people in South Africa continue to smoke, despite the serious risks. According to population modelling studies³, a significant reduction in smoking related disease could be achieved if smokers switched exclusively to reduced risk¹ alternatives.
Dr Edward Makgotlho, Area Head of Scientific Affairs for BAT Sub-Saharan Africa, said:
“We believe that underage consumers should never use nicotine, and the role of regulation in helping to ensure this is vital. As well as mandating appropriate age limits, age verification solutions need to be introduced at points of sale, and the importance of enforcing regulation cannot, and should not, be forgotten.”
BAT has set out four principles that should be applied in South Africa for effective and impactful regulation relating to smokeless tobacco and nicotine products:
1. Consumer access to relevant products: Regulations in all countries where cigarettes are sold should also allow a wide range of smokeless alternatives, to ensure that consumers can access these alternatives and make informed choices about switching, based on the best available scientific evidence.
2. Adult-only consumers: The use and sale of smokeless tobacco and nicotine products by and to underage consumers should be prohibited by law.
3. Product quality and safety: Robust and properly enforced quality and safety standards should be at the heart of regulation, to protect consumers.
4. Robust enforcement: Regulation should provide enforcement authorities with the necessary powers to apply penalties and sanctions to those who fail to comply with regulations, particularly those who supply non-compliant products and provide product to those who are underage.
Countries that have implemented regulation that recognises the harm reduction potential of smokeless products and support their use for adult smokers have experience a rapid decline in smoking. The United Kingdom, United States and Japan are all reporting their lowest smoking rates on record, while Sweden is on track to declare itself smoke-free this year – 16 years ahead of the European Union’s 2040 target.
“The migration of smokers to these alternatives is crucial both for countries looking to reduce their smoking rates and for global public health more broadly. Whether or not governments are able to take advantage of these products and maximise their harm reduction potential depends as much on the implementation of progressive, risk-proportionate regulation as it does on changes in consumer behaviour,” said Dr Makgotlho.
BAT’s global purpose is to create A Better Tomorrow™ by Building a Smokeless World. This commitment is demonstrated in various ways, including the Company’s investment of more than R6.9 billion a year in the development of smokeless tobacco and nicotine products, which are sold in 75+ markets globally, including South Africa.
References:
1. Based on the weight of evidence and assuming a complete switch from cigarette smoking. These products are not risk-free and are addictive.
2. BATSA market research as at 2024, conducted by an external market research house.
3. Camacho OM & Ebajemito J, et al. 2021. Evidence from the Scientific Assessment of Electronic Cigarettes’ Role in Tobacco Harm Reduction. Contributions to Tobacco & Nicotine Research, 30(2): 63-108. Available: https://doi.org/10.2478/cttr-2021-0007
Levy DT & Gartner C, et al. 2023. The Australia Smoking and Vaping Model: the Potential Impact of Increasing Access to Nicotine Vaping Products. Journal of Nicotine & Tobacco Research, 25(3): 486-497. Available: https://doi.org/10.1093/ntr/ntac210
Yach D & Human D, et al. 2023. Integrating Harm Reduction into Tobacco Control. SmokeFreeSweden.org. Available: https://smokefreesweden.org/lives-saved.pdf
