Sichuan Tobacco Hope Elementary School

The second line reads “Tobacco helps you achieve”

“If you had to write on your resume that you’d graduated from Sichuan Tobacco Hope Elementary School, how would you feel?” Professor Wu Yiqun, deputy director of the research institute leading efforts in tighter control of tobacco use, is arguing vehemently, calling for tighter control on tobacco, and in particular, prohibiting tobacco companies from funding and naming schools and grants for impoverished children and families. Though you wouldn’t have known it from his passionate performance, Professor Wu wasn’t speaking to a real judge or jury; he was arguing his case at a mock hearing held by the Law School of Tsinghua University.

On the morning of December 13th, the Law School of Tsinghua University held a mock hearing concerning the issues involved in the push to amend regulations related to the management of tobacco advertising and promotions in China. Those in favor of tighter control on tobacco companies are attempting to outlaw all forms of tobacco advertisement and promotion, including funding of Project Hope schools and other social projects.

Representatives of the tobacco companies argued that tobacco is a legal commodity and thus they should be allowed to advertise and promote their product. As far as funding social project goes, the representative pointed out that this is solely an effort on part of the companies to give back to the community and society, and thus they should be allowed to do so.

However, those in favor of a tighter ban on tobacco argue that tobacco ads and promotions, including the funding of social projects, are all aimed at whitewashing the harmful nature of tobacco products and promoting the image of the tobacco companies that produce them.

At the mock hearing, Professor Wu handed out research material he had done on tobacco companies funding Project Hope schools. Mr. Wu used the above pictures to argue that Chinese tobacco companies are only interested in promoting a better image of their firms, so as to advertise and promote sales of their products.

At the mock hearing it was explained that current Chinese laws and regulations related to management of tobacco advertisements and promotions have not stipulated any rules limiting billboard advertising and the wording of slogans in advertising tobacco products; nor are there any specific regulations about tobacco companies funding public and social projects.

Mr. Jiang with the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention put forth the view that a blanket ban on tobacco ads, promotions and funding of social projects is necessary and will help achieve better control on tobacco consumption in China. Though this was just a mock hearing, the issue of advertising regulations in China and philanthropy by tobacco companies is a very real one and we’re likely to be hearing more about it in the future.

Source: gcpnews.com

***

Related Links

New Regulations Released on Travel Industry Ads
China: Govt should not smoke with public money
Cigarettegate - How a Bureau Director was Brought Down by a Human-powered Search

Warning：The use of any news and articles published on eChinacities.com without written permission from eChinacities.com constitutes copyright infringement, and legal action can be taken.