Big Tobacco Attempted To Woo El Senor Anti-Imperialista. They Didn't Get Very Far.

[Judi Lynn]

Big Tobacco Attempted To Woo El Senor Anti-Imperialista. They Didn't Get Very Far.
By Simone Baribeau
Jan 5, 2008, 07:22

~snip~
Back in 1999, the new Venezuelan administration wasn't viewed as unfriendly, only unknown. And the US tobacco industry had plenty to gain from friendly relations: the country, along with a bevy of others, was suing the industry for tobacco-related healthcare expenses, and stood to lose should Venezuela ramp up its cigarette taxes, heighten its anti-smuggling efforts or spearhead public health campaigns.

And so the tobacco industry suggested three talking points, according to documents recently uncovered in the Philip Morris Tobacco archive. They would argue that the lawsuit was not winnable; that dropping the lawsuit would separate the Chavez administration from the corrupt governments of the past; and that it would encourage foreign investment in the country.

~snip~
In March 2005, cigarette packages in Venezuela became more graphic. Though cigarette packages had had warnings since 1978, the entire front of a package now consists of a picture representing the effects of smoking, such as rotting teeth or a foot with a toe tag and one of ten warnings, including "smoking causes impotence in men" and "smoking causes bad breath, loss of molars, and mouth cancer." One of the sides of the box also contains health warnings.

Venezuela has also begun providing free medical care for people trying to quit smoking. Last August, the Health Ministry announced it had started 43 clinics to help people stop smoking and had trained more than 420 doctors who specialize in smoking cessation techniques. Venezuelans can participate in these programs free of charge. Earlier this year, the Ministry announced that the government paid almost $2800 per participant. "We're providing treatment, completely free, to people who have voluntarily decided to quit their addiction, including giving out patches, gum, and other things that allow them to get better," announced then-Health Minister Erick Rodríguez.

More:
http://axisoflogic.com/artman/publish/article_25785.shtml