Matthes Britta K, Legg Tess, Hiscock Rosemary, Gallagher Allen W A, Silver Karin, Alaouie Hala, Thomas Duncan, Gilmore Anna B
Department for Health, University of Bath, Bath, UK
Department for Health, University of Bath, Bath, UK.
Tob Control. 2025 Mar 23. doi: 10.1136/tc-2024-059207.
In 2023, the UK government proposed a Bill introducing a generational ban on the sale of tobacco products and measures targeting youth nicotine product (NP) use. Industries' responses remain unexplored.
We analysed 43 consultation and evidence submissions from tobacco and nicotine industry-linked actors, assessing their connections to transnational tobacco companies (TTCs) and using an evidence-based taxonomy to examine framing strategies.
TTCs and actors with known current TTC links accounted for 42% of submissions. Other actors-some with historic TTC ties-were other tobacco products (OTPs) specialists, NP specialists and retailers. Tobacco and nicotine industries were generally portrayed as 'good' with TTCs framing themselves as public health champions, while policymakers, the public health community and non-compliant sellers were depicted as 'bad' actors. TTCs, linked groups and additional OTP actors opposed the generational ban, arguing it lacked evidence and would harm the economy and increase violence against retailers. Proposed alternative approaches included exempting heated tobacco products (HTPs) and OTPs, and raising the age of sale to 21. TTCs, linked actors and NP actors opposed restrictions on NP flavours, packaging and display, arguing these would infringe on rights, harm retailers, stifle innovation, and increase smoking and illicit trade. They framed youth NP use as resulting from irresponsible individuals and advocated for education, stricter penalties and self-regulation.
When faced with tobacco endgame and nicotine control policies in the UK, tobacco and nicotine industries pushed back using framing strategies common to health-harming industries. Despite contradicting their 'transformation' narratives, TTCs still sought to position themselves as public health actors deserving policy access. Advocates, researchers and policymakers can anticipate opposition to endgame policies-such as a generational sales ban-and NP restrictions, proactively preparing to counter this opposition in order to safeguard public health policy from vested interests.
2023年，英国政府提出一项法案，对烟草制品销售实施一代人时间的禁令，并采取措施针对年轻人使用尼古丁产品（NP）的情况。行业的回应仍未得到探讨。
我们分析了来自与烟草和尼古丁行业相关行为者的43份咨询和证据提交材料，评估了他们与跨国烟草公司（TTC）的联系，并使用基于证据的分类法来研究框架策略。
TTC以及目前与TTC有已知联系的行为者占提交材料的42%。其他行为者——有些与TTC有历史联系——包括其他烟草制品（OTP）专家、NP专家和零售商。烟草和尼古丁行业通常被描绘为“好的”，TTC将自己塑造为公共卫生倡导者，而政策制定者、公共卫生界和违规销售者则被描绘为“坏的”行为者。TTC、相关团体和其他OTP行为者反对一代人时间的禁令，认为该禁令缺乏证据，会损害经济并增加针对零售商的暴力行为。提议的替代方法包括豁免加热烟草制品（HTP）和OTP，以及将销售年龄提高到21岁。TTC、相关行为者和NP行为者反对对NP口味、包装和展示的限制，认为这些会侵犯权利、损害零售商、扼杀创新，并增加吸烟和非法贸易。他们将年轻人使用NP归咎于不负责任的个人，并主张进行教育、实施更严厉的处罚和自我监管。
在英国面对烟草终结和尼古丁控制政策时，烟草和尼古丁行业利用有害健康行业常用的框架策略进行抵制。尽管与他们的“转型”说法相矛盾，但TTC仍试图将自己定位为值得获得政策准入的公共卫生行为者。倡导者、研究人员和政策制定者可以预期会有人反对终结政策——如一代人时间的销售禁令——以及NP限制，应积极准备应对这种反对意见，以保护公共卫生政策免受既得利益的影响。
