Trinidad & Tobago 2004/05 - British American Tobacco

3.5 HEALTH ISSUES
Our View
We believe the health impact of tobacco
consumption should be reduced whilst
respecting the right of informed adults to
choose the products they prefer.
West Indian Tobacco has long accepted that
smoking poses risks to health.
The risks associated with smoking are primarily
defi ned by epidemiological (population
statistical) studies that show that groups of
lifetime smokers have far higher incidence of
certain diseases than comparable groups of
non-smokers. The statistics, however, do not
tell us whether a particular individual smoker
will avoid an associated disease by smoking less
or smoking lower-tar cigarettes. Moreover, all
smoking behaviours are associated with some
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risk, and as far as we know, the only way to
be sure to avoid a smoking-related risk is not
to smoke. No one can be sure of the exact
health impact smoking may have on a particular
individual but research on groups of people
suggests that starting later, smoking fewer
cigarettes and quitting sooner could be among
the steps smokers might take to generally
reduce risk levels.
However, the only way to avoid the risks of
smoking is not to smoke and the best way to
reduce the risks of smoking is not to smoke.
There is no such thing as a 'safe' cigarette.
At present, research on these issues is
coordinated through the British American
Tobacco Group Head Offi ce in London. For
further information on research conducted by
the British American Tobacco Group, please visit
www.bat.com.
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3.0
Stakeholders'
Expectations
and our
Commitments
3.4
Consumer
Information
3.5
Health
Issues
35