We have no idea where the tobacco companies have been in the last two decades, when smoking bans have been passed globally, or why they rolled over in 1998 with the MSA but now they ticked off.
In 2005, the World Health Organization urged countries to consider plain packaging. The problem is it is not plain, it has graphic photo’s of smokers who are allegedly dying of tobacco related illnesses. With CGI so widely used in movies there is no way to know if these are real people or people who are made up.
"British American Tobacco (BATS.L) on Thursday became the second tobacco giant to launch legal action against Australian laws forcing tobacco products to be sold in drab, plain packaging from next year, following the lead of Philip Morris (PM.N).
The laws, cleared by parliament, are being watched closely by governments considering similar moves in Europe, Canada and New Zealand. They have angered tobacco firms who fear they may set a global precedent and infringe on trademark rights."
Forces is not funded by tobacco, never has been, however in this instance no company regardless of whom they are should give up their intellectual property rights and trademarks.
If tobacco looses their lawsuits then you can expect see graphic messages on beer, wine, hard liquor, soda’s and junk food. It will set a precedent for Big Brother to dictate what is on the label of legal products.
We strongly disagree with the position of "plain packaging" which is being promoted by the WHO, whom no one elected to office, and has no right to force their opinion on people’s behavior globally.
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