Advocacy for a mobile court for ban on TAPS by Japan Tobacco International (JTI) and Dhaka Tobacco Industries (DTI) by TC law

Abstract

Background and challenges to implementation JTI and DTI jointly undertake promotional activities to market Winston cigarettes newly. Students are involved in marketing this brand. Everywhere these students make huge publicity among public by distributing Winston cigarettes including gift items such as match lights, bags, special boxes of cigarettes, umbrellas, pen drives, caps, T-shirts, mugs, etc. with Winston's logo. Due to gift distribution, new smokers are being created among the youth. In accordance with TC Act, distribution of gifts is a punishable offense. But tobacco companies do these activities in a way that they cannot be easily caught for tricky activities. Intervention or response These criminal activities were informed to officials and Tobacco Control Task Force. As company's promotional programs were running, magistrates operated several mobile courts accompanied by police and alert shopkeepers with financial fines and destroy fronts of flee shops with Winston brand logo. Besides, the easy to carrying shops and big umbrellas containing the brand logo were seized and dumped to remove it. Again, companies have lent money to vendors to pay for the fine. Finally, the depots are identified for stopping these initiatives of companies and duly notified to the mobile court operating magistrates. Finally all promotional activities are seized. Currently, all such activities are closed. Results and lessons learnt In collecting information about illegal activities of marketing of Winston Cigarette produced by JTI, the authority is properly informed. As a result, it has been possible to play a role by imposing legal penalties and punishment. It is possible to control the barriers that Company produces directly and indirectly through promotional activities. Conclusions and key recommendations Tobacco Companies directly and indirectly trick to broaden the use of tobacco can be stopped to protect public health with the coordination of GO-NGO.

Keywords

• WCTOH