(ALEC ALERT) US free market group tries to halt sales of cigarettes in plain packets in UK

[alp227]

A powerful US lobbying group that bankrolls climate change sceptics and leading members of the Tea Party is mobilising British opposition against plans to sell cigarettes in plain packs.

As the UK government considers the proposals, it has emerged the American Legislative Exchange Council (Alec), an organisation sponsored by big tobacco and other corporate interests, is playing a key role in trying to scupper them.

Supporters of the plans say they will deter young people from smoking. But opponents say there is little evidence this is the case and warn that generic packs will encourage counterfeiting.

Alec, which is heavily supported by Charles and David Koch, the billionaire oil baron brothers, has launched a sophisticated global lobbying campaign against the plan.

full: http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2012/jul/15/cigarettes-plain-packets-alec-koch-brothers

Wow. What the hell is ALEC doing meddling with British politics? Is that even legal? I don't know of any left-wing advocacy groups that meddle with foreign public policy like this.

[bemildred]

1. I always get a kick out of "free-market" people trying to keep stuff off the market. nt

[muriel_volestrangler]

2. This isn't actually about 'keeping stuff off the market'

It's true that the proposal is 'anti-free market' - it's to stop any cigarettes being sold in packets with a recognisable brand identity. Instead, they'll have some neutral, bland design that's the same for all brands, with just the text distinguishing them. The idea is that the brand image encourages new smokers to identify with a brand and get hooked. The tobacco companies of course fear losing their marketing abilities.

[bemildred]

3. Yeah it is, it's about keeping generic cigarrettes off the market.

[muriel_volestrangler]

4. Keeping them off, vs. banning all non-generic cigarettes, if you must look at it like that

The cigarettes would still be manufactured by the current companies. But they won't be able to show their brands.

There's no problem in not having a 'free market' in cigarettes (there are already large restrictions on their marketing - no advertising, for instance). They're a deadly product, and so government have the right to regulate them heavily.