Misinformation, Lack of Access & Confusion Hamper the Ability of Smokers Who Don’t Quit to Consider Better Alternatives, a ...
August 20 2019 - 12:02AM
Business Wire
Philip Morris International Inc. (PMI) (NYSE:PM) today released
a white paper titled “Unsmoke: Clearing the Way for Change” based
on findings from a major international study conducted for the
company by independent research firm Povaddo. There is no question
that, while the best choice is to quit cigarettes and nicotine
altogether, the reality is that many people don’t. The
survey—conducted in 13 countries among adults aged 21 to 74—forms
the basis of the paper’s exploration around two core themes: the
impact of smoking on personal relationships and the lack of
information available about smoke-free products. It reveals some of
the barriers that might be preventing smokers from considering
smoke-free alternatives over continued smoking.
“There is currently a tremendous amount of misinformation
circulating about smoke-free products, and this is causing
confusion. It is one of the biggest hurdles the world faces in
becoming smoke-free,” said Jacek Olczak, chief operating officer at
PMI. “The reality is there are better options available to adult
smokers who don’t quit. There urgently needs to be a new global
conversation—based on scientific research and facts—about these
alternatives.”
Untruths and Consequences The white paper looks at the
public appetite for a better conversation around how to make
cigarettes a thing of the past—it’s a desire that’s not being
fulfilled. While four in five respondents agreed that change is
needed, just over half of the adult smokers surveyed (55 percent)
said they have the information they need to make an informed choice
about smoke-free products. In Israel, only one in four (25 percent)
said they have all the information they need; in Australia, it was
also below half (43 percent). Compare that with Hong Kong (66
percent), Italy (64 percent) and Brazil (62 percent)—the difference
is pronounced.
Demand for information is strong: 90 percent of the public is
aware of e-cigarettes, and nearly seven in 10 (68 percent) current
smokers said they would be more likely to consider switching to
better alternatives such as e-cigarettes or heated tobacco products
if they had clearer guidance on how these products differ from
cigarettes. Across the 13 countries, the strongest consideration of
switching as a result of better information was shown by the Latin
American countries: Brazil and Mexico (both 85 percent) and
Argentina (80 percent). The lowest likelihood was shown by two
European neighbors: Germany (51 percent) and Denmark (47
percent).
The Impact of Smoking on Relationships The report
explores the current mindset toward smoking of both smokers and
nonsmokers, and the role smoking—and unsmoking—plays in personal
and social relationships.
Quitting cigarettes and nicotine altogether is the best option,
but compared to continued smoking, using smoke-free alternatives
may have less of an impact on personal relationships. Almost half
of former smokers (48 percent) who have switched to smoke-free
alternatives reported improved relationships with family and
friends since switching, and 45 percent reported that their social
lives have improved as a result, with a slightly higher proportion
of men than women reporting this improvement (48 percent vs. 41
percent, respectively).
Intimate relationships are not the only ones affected: The
survey revealed that unsmoking could have a positive impact on
social lives. More than two-thirds (69 percent) of nonsmokers
stated they don’t like visiting smokers’ homes because they feel
uncomfortable being around smoke. Even outside the home, nonsmokers
say the worst smell of cigarettes is on smokers’ clothes (77
percent). This was a major dislike in all age groups: 21-34 years
(74 percent), 35-54 years (78 percent), 55-74 years (79 percent).
There was little difference in views between genders, with 75
percent of men and 79 percent of women agreeing that the worst
smell of a smoker is their clothes.
Unsmoking may offer further opportunities to close the social
gap between smokers and nonsmokers. According to the survey,
smokers experience social awkwardness—with half (53 percent) saying
they feel uncomfortable around nonsmoking friends and relatives
even while not smoking. Particularly notable differences can be
observed between Latin American and European countries. In Latin
America, the countries surveyed—Brazil, Mexico and Argentina—polled
higher than average (at 61 percent, 55 percent and 51 percent,
respectively) on this statement. In European countries, people were
less likely to agree: In Denmark, only 25 percent of respondents
agreed; in Italy, 39 percent; the U.K., 40 percent; and Germany, 44
percent.
“We are creating a movement to help the world unsmoke,” said
Marian Salzman, senior vice president, global communications at
PMI. “These results are from one of the largest cross-cultural
polls ever conducted about the impact of smoking on relationships.
They show us where there are differences in social values, but,
more important, they reveal the similarities that will help the
#unsmokeyourworld initiative move from person to person, city to
city, and smoker to unsmoker to bring about global change.”
#Unsmokeyourworld is a PMI initiative to speed up a historic
change in public health. Through the #unsmoke movement, we want to
bring together a community of people who can accelerate this change
by reinforcing the message that quitting cigarettes and nicotine
altogether is the best choice any smoker can make and becoming
advocates of the message that for smokers who would otherwise
continue to smoke, there are better alternatives to choose
from.
To read the full “Unsmoke: Clearing the Way for Change” white
paper, visit: www.unsmokeyourworld.com/whitepaper
About the Povaddo Survey This survey was carried out
April 24-May 6, 2019, by Povaddo, a leading public opinion research
firm, on behalf of Philip Morris International. The survey fielded
a total of 16,099 online interviews among general population adults
21-74 years of age across 13 countries (Argentina, Australia,
Brazil, Denmark, Germany, Hong Kong, Israel, Italy, Japan, Mexico,
Russia, United Kingdom and United States). The survey carries an
overall margin of error of +/- 1% at the 95 percent confidence
interval.
About #Unsmokeyourworld #Unsmokeyourworld is a global
conversation that inspires human stories—for the people, by the
people. To learn more, visit UnsmokeYourWorld.com.
About Philip Morris International: Delivering a Smoke-Free
Future Philip Morris International (PMI) is leading a
transformation in the tobacco industry to create a smoke-free
future and ultimately replace cigarettes with smoke-free products
to the benefit of adults who would otherwise continue to smoke,
society, the company and its shareholders. PMI is a leading
international tobacco company engaged in the manufacture and sale
of cigarettes, smoke-free products and associated electronic
devices and accessories, and other nicotine-containing products in
markets outside the U.S. PMI is building a future on a new category
of smoke-free products that, while not risk-free, are a much better
choice than continuing to smoke. Through multidisciplinary
capabilities in product development, state-of-the-art facilities
and scientific substantiation, PMI aims to ensure that its
smoke-free products meet adult consumer preferences and rigorous
regulatory requirements. For more information, please visit
http://www.pmi.com and www.pmiscience.com.
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David Fraser Philip Morris International Media Office +41 (0)58
242 4500 david.fraser@pmi.com
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