The 13th World Conference on Tobacco OR Health

Objective: To learn mew aims of representatives of international tobacco industry representatives (PM-Altria and BAT) actions with youth population of Georgia regarding fighting against smoking.

Methods: Interviewing representatives of Ministry of Education and schoolchildren, where PM and BAT provided anti-smoking action and learn information from global sources regarding real face of tobacco industry.

Results:

In the years of 2002-2004 the PM and BAT offices provided aggressive policy with youth population of Georgia. Ordinary it was done in schools of big cities: Tbilisi and Kutaisi. First time they wanted to sign the agreement with Ministry of Education, but after our strong efforts the Ministry changed positions, but some schools on the basis of financial interest organized actions in school for stopping smoking until 18. General aim was to popularize brands of such companies and they recommended to schoolchildren begin the smoking after 18. It one of the part of aggressive policy of transnational companies. Until such action they created coalition of NGOs, which received money from the industry. They create billboards and organized actions in schools.