MONTREAL, April 29 /CNW Telbec/ - Casa Cubana is outraged at the latest
tactics used by government-funded anti-tobacco groups. In their world of "the
end justifies the means", anti-tobacco groups in Canada have felt it
increasingly necessary to use kids in their attempt to manipulate public
perception, create public outrage and force governments to over-regulate
tobacco products. Over-regulation of tobacco products in Canada, has we have
witnessed several times over the last decade - often leads to much greater
problems for our country and effectively undermines the very health objectives
governments purport to promote and defend.
"These extremist groups are now tricking "kids" into promoting their
self-serving agendas against tobacco" - says Luc Martial (in charge of
government affairs with Casa Cubana, and formerly with the Non-Smokers' Rights
Association, the Canadian Council on Smoking and Health, the National
Clearinghouse on Tobacco and Health, and the federal government (Health
Canada). "While perhaps well-intended, these kids and their youth-oriented
anti-tobacco groups are unfortunately simply regurgitating misrepresentations
actively promoted by anti-tobacco extremist groups. These kids, unfortunately,
have not learned to question the information being force-fed to them by people
and organizations that on the face of it...seem trustworthy. And that's the
problem."
These youth organizations recently called upon Québec's Minister of
Health to ban the use of flavours in tobacco products - citing the use of
flavored cigarillos as an emerging problem among youth. If youth organizations
like "La gang allumée" were actually "allumée" - then they would realize that
the issues they are raising are simply misguided. It is well known that high
school kids have always been (and will likely always be) unfortunately
experimenting with drugs, alcohol and yes, even tobacco. Government research,
however, now clearly suggests that high school kids are by far greater
consumers of alcohol, gambling products and marijuana (compared to tobacco
products). According to the Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse (CCSA), alcohol
is now by far the most common substance used by Canadian youth. A recent
national school survey of students in grade 7-9 found that about 66.6% had
already consumed alcohol. Provincial surveys of junior high and high school
students showed that 50% - 66% were current users of alcohol. Cannabis is the
second most common used substance - and the first illicit drug used by our
kids. Provincial surveys showed that 25% - 33+% of junior high and high school
students used cannabis.
The fact is that alcohol and marijuana use are now much greater problems
among youth than tobacco. It's important to note that the market for specialty
tobacco products in Canada (which include premium cigars, little cigars,
cigarillos and cheroots) - continues to represent less than 1% of all tobacco
products sold and consumed in our country. More to this point, the very same
flavours in cigarillos that youth groups are now requesting that government
ban - are similarly and in much greater varieties found in alcohol products
distributed in government-run liquor stores, supermarkets and general retail
outlets. How come these kids are not asking the Minister of Health to ban the
use of flavours in alcohol - when four times more kids consume alcohol than
tobacco?
Since anti-tobacco groups are not willing to give these youth groups all
of the facts - then we thought we would start. Further to the statistical
research document actively promoted by anti-tobacco groups and now youth
groups (Institut de la Statistique du Québec -Enquête québécoise sur le tabac,
l'alcool, la drogue et le jeu chez les élèves du secondaire 2006) - the
following provides a much clearer understanding of tobacco use among kids:- 38% of minors (12-17) who smoke said they bought themselves tobacco
products at legal retail channels.
- 28% of minors who smoke bought tobacco products from friends or school
peers.
- 38% of minors who smoke asked a third party to buy tobacco products for
them.
- 14% of minors who smoke obtained tobacco products from their parents.
- 8% of minors who smoke obtained tobacco products from their
brother/sister.
- 43% of minors who smoke obtain tobacco products free of charge from
their friends.
- 6% of minors who smoke obtain their tobacco products from other,
non-identified (in the questionnaire) sources.
- 63% of minors who smoke did so with the consent of at least one of
their parents.
So if these youth groups actually care about youth and tobacco issues,
perhaps instead of misguidingly calling for a ban on flavored tobacco products
they should call for the following actions from the government:
1. The introduction of a youth possession law in Québec (as currently
exists in the provinces of Alberta and Nova Scotia). Strict fines and
penalties would either be issued to minors (directly) or to legal
guardians and parents. A youth possession law, as an integral
component to the province's tobacco control strategy, is sorely
needed. Such a law would lend credibility and communicate a
sustainable message to kids and parents. More to this point, such a
law would penalize those parents who currently condone their
children's involvement in breaking the law (i.e. illegally acquiring
tobacco) and would empower those legal guardians and parents who wish
to effectively end their child's access to such products;
2. Dramatically increase fines and penalties for retailers caught selling
tobacco products to underage Canadians. There is absolutely no reason
why the government of Québec should penalize the vast majority of
responsible businessmen and women in the province - for the illegal
behavior of a few. The legal industry would support greater penalties
to anyone caught breaking the law and selling to minors;
3. Invest more resources in enforcement and compliance - to include more
inspectors, more inspections and the development of a truly productive
partnership with retailers in Québec on sales-to-youth prevention
programs;
4. Develop youth-specific campaigns on the subject of access to tobacco
and smoking - that would equally address the issue of parental
consent, and illegal supply (friends, family, peers); and
5. Possibly increase the legal age requirement for buying tobacco and
smoking tobacco products in the province, from 18 to 21.Casa Cubana is a Montreal-based importer of quality cigar products.
Established in 1998, the company's reach extends throughout Canada with a
sales force servicing approximately 10,000+ direct accounts - to include
wholesalers, retail chains, independent retailers, gas bars, grocery stores
and the duty-free channel. In the province of Québec, Casa Cubana has more
than 4,400 legitimate and responsible private sector partners who distributes
its products to tens of thousands of legal-aged and responsible consumers.
For further information: Luc Martial, (819) 682-2352, Cell: (819)
743-9140
