Tobacco TNCs What is the global distribution of smokers? How does the tobacco industry operate and why is it such a big business? What are the health risks of smoking? How are different countries tackling the smoking issue?

Female SmokersThere are women who smoke living in every territory in the world. But the proportion of women who smoke varies from 1% in Azerbaijan to 47% in Guinea. Of the total world female population over the age of 15 years, 10% are smokers. Some girls start to smoke before they reach the age of 15.The Americas are home to 29% of the worlds 232 million female smokers.

Male smokersWorldwide there are four times more men that smoke than women. In 2002 there were 941 million male smokers, which was 43% of all men aged over 15 years old. The largest population of male smokers lives in China - where men are more likely to smoke than not to smoke. Even Puerto Rico and Sweden, with the lowest percentages of men who smoke still have 17% who are smokers.

The four largest Tobacco TNCs

Phillip Morris International

British American Tobacco

Japan Tobacco

Imperial Tobacco

Case Study BAT

Health RisksHeart attacks and strokes. Smokers are five times more likely to have a heart attack than non-smokers. Smoking also increases the risk of having a strokeLung problems. Men who smoke increase their chances of dying from lung cancer by more than 22 times. For women the giure is 12 times.

Health RisksCancer. Smoking increases the risk of oral, uterine, liver, kidney, bladder, stomach and cervical cancers, and leukaemia.Smoking and young people. People who start smoking aged 11-15 are 3 times more likely to die a premature death than someone who takes up smoking at the age of 20

Tackling SmokingUSASmoking bans are in place in public places for many cities and states. EG New York banned smoking in bars, clubs and restaurants in 2003IndiaA ban on smoking in all public places in October 2008 and cigarette sales to children banned. India has 900,000 smoking related deaths every yearChinaMay 2008 smoking banned in most public places in the lead up to the Olympic Games. Part of a move to encourage healthier lifestyles.AustraliaSmoking banned in most public places, including Bondi Beach. The cities of Freemantle and Perth have banned smoking in outside dining areas.

What strategies are used in the UK?

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