We have seen a significant decline in the use of tobacco as a result of increases taxes, well-advertised health warnings, smoking bans in public areas and negative opinions raised by WHO research.

However, tobacco companies make every last effort to oppose the many measures taken against them, all in the name of profit. Such devious schemes include raising lawsuits against countries who take action towards them, lobbying against measures, and even designing products that they can claim to bypass the regulations on the basis of technicalities. The industry is also revolutionizing to adapt to changes in consumer opinion about cigarettes with the introduction of e-cigarettes which, while assisting people in quitting their smoking habits, may introduce youth to smoking with this latest fad.

If this is how big tobacco reacts to the idea of corporate social responsibility then the tobacco industry is a perfect example of a whole industry that revolves around increasing profit instead of increasing benefits to all stakeholders. While these multi-billion dollar companies may be raking in the money right now, it is my hope that the companies will face long-term hardships as the result of their neglect of ethics.

link to “From lawsuits to e-cigarettes, how big tobacco is fighting back”: http://www.theguardian.com/global-development-professionals-network/2014/sep/01/smoking-tobacco-ecigarettes-public-health?commentpage=1