Tobacco Asia

6 tobaccoasia / Issue 5, 2017 November / December From the Associate Editor © 2017 October Multimedia Co Ltd., TOBACCO ASIA is published quinterly (five times a year) by October Multimedia Co Ltd in March, May, July, September, and December. Printing and distribu- tion of TOBACCO ASIA is overseen by October Inter Co. Ltd., Interchange 21 Bldg., Room 3225, 32nd Fl., 399 Sukhumvit Road, North Klong Toey, Wattana, Bangkok, 10110 THAILAND. Tel +66 2 660 3789. Fax +66 2 660 3881. E-mail: info@octobermultimedia.com web: www.tobaccoasia.com. Representation for Tobacco Asia Asia / Middle East / Australasia China / Eastern Europe Italy / Spain / France October Inter Co. Ltd. Interchange 21 Bldg.,Room 3225, 399 Sukhumvit Road 32nd Fl. Bangkok, 10110, Thailand Tel +662 660 3789, Fax +662 660 3881 Contact: Glenn Anthony John Mobile +1 917 843 0000 or +66 818 299 409 gaj@octobermultimedia.com The Americas / Northern Europe Turkey / Africa Cardinal Media LLC 2 Glenfield, Barrington RI 02806 United States Contact: Emerson Leonard Tel +1 917 680 1050 edl@octobermultimedia.com Printing/Distribution overseen by: October Inter Co. Ltd. Interchange 21 Bldg., Room 3225, 399 Sukhumvit Road, 32nd Fl. Bangkok, 10110, Thailand Tel +662 660 3789 Fax +662 660 3881 Distribution by: DHL Express International (Thailand) Ltd. Published by: October Multimedia Co., Ltd. Printed in Thailand © 2017 October Multimedia Co., Ltd. All rights reserved. By-lined or initialed articles represent the opinion of the author. All articles published in Tobacco Asia or www.tobaccoasia. com are copyrighted. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording, or any information storage and retrieval system, without written permission. This past July, Dutch lawyers sued Philip Morris International, British American Tobacco, Japan Tobacco International, and Imperial Tobacco Benelux for attempted murder or man- slaughter, attempted aggravated assault with premeditation, attempted deliberate harm to health with premeditation, and forgery, apparently hinged upon these companies and their products' designs and promotion. Lawyers from 15 other countries met with the Dutch team in Geneva to discuss their approach to the case, hoping to replicate it back home. Most recently, lawyers in the UK are reportedly assessing the feasi- bility of bringing about a similar suit. But, is the Tobacco industry really the evil mastermind that viciously preys upon an unsus- pecting public, forcing its "cancer sticks" down their throats, like it's being portrayed? With all the current laws and regulations in place, from plain packaging, graphic warnings on packs, to who can buy tobacco products and where they can actually smoke, as well as the mes- sages disseminated from anti-smoking and health organizations, it seems quite unlikely that consumers are unaware of what could happen if they smoke heavily. Tobacco isn't the only culprit that can cause health problems or even death. What other products that an average person consumes in their daily life which are designed to make you like them and promoted so that you buy them, and everyone likewise knows they are or could be harmful? Alcohol, sugar, even water, are possible threats to our health which could lead to fatal conditions if consumed in excess. We all know by now that drinking large amounts of alcohol at one time or rapidly can cause alcohol poisoning, which can lead to death. Or that driving under the influence of alcohol can lead to fatal accidents that don't affect just the driver but could also kill innocent victims. A recent 15-year study, published in JAMA Internal Medicine, found that a sugar-laden diet may raise your risk of dying of heart disease even if you aren't overweight. Does that mean creators of absolutely to-die-for, tempting desserts, chock-full of that yummy sweetness we all adore, are actually murderers out to kill us by poisoning us slowly until we suffer a heart attack? Even water, which is crucial to our being able to survive (remember how you were told you should drink at least eight glasses a day?), can cause hyponatremia, better known as water intoxication, which happens when you drink too much water, causing the level of sodium in your blood to drop too low, which can be fatal. Go figure. Does this mean that producers of alcohol, sugar, and water should all also be tried as mur- derers because well informed consumers continue to use and possibly abuse their products? Is anyone accountable for their own life anymore?

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