Inclusive Dialogue and Compromise Needed to Address Major Issues Impacting Society Today, Reveals International Survey from Philip Morris International
June 13 2022 - 4:30AM
Business Wire
Around three-quarters of nicotine consumers
want policymakers to consider their views when deliberating on
tobacco and nicotine regulations
The results of a new international survey released today by
Philip Morris International Inc. (PMI) (NYSE: PM) reveal that
citizens worldwide are frustrated by divisive and exclusionary
approaches to policymaking. More than eight in ten adults surveyed
worldwide (82 percent) believe the best solutions to critical
global challenges can be found not at the extremes but in the
middle ground. Conducted by independent research firm Povaddo for
PMI, the survey of more than 44,000 adults in 22 countries shows
strong agreement among respondents (88 percent) that when making
decisions that affect the lives of a significant portion of the
population, leaders must listen to and advocate for the people they
represent.
The survey results show support for a balanced approach to
tobacco regulation, one that brings together all voices and
encourages incremental progress on harm reduction. Specifically,
the survey found that:
- 77 percent agree that the too-often-ignored perspectives of
those most directly impacted need to be included in regulatory
discussions;
- 75 percent agree that societal expectations of total abstinence
from substances such as nicotine and alcohol are not feasible, and
so the government should take steps to reduce the harm of their
use; and
- 72 percent agree that their governments need to consider the
role alternative products can play in making their countries
smoke-free.
“If we are to address the challenges we face as a society in a
meaningful and expeditious way, a more balanced and inclusive
approach is required,” said Gregoire Verdeaux, Senior Vice
President, External Affairs. “This includes policy decisions that
consider first and foremost the people who are most
impacted—ensuring their voices are heard and their needs are
met—and then bringing all relevant parties to the table, including
subject matter experts, private companies, civil society leaders,
and others who can contribute to solving the issues at hand.”
Despite increasingly polarized societies worldwide, the survey
revealed a strong consensus that finding a middle ground on
contentious issues can drive incremental policy change and enable
progress:
- 90 percent of respondents believe that to solve the most
pressing societal challenges, leaders need to consider all
perspectives—even those that run counter to their own.
- 88 percent said they would be more likely to vote for leaders
who listen to all sides of an issue and adopt sensible approaches
that better the lives of ordinary people.
- Currently, less than a third of adults surveyed (31 percent)
believe their views are reflected in the way their governments are
addressing critical issues.
Additionally, the survey found that citizens are tired of
waiting for change and are willing to compromise to make things
happen:
- 76 percent believe leaders should pursue policy changes that
allow for incremental progress on societal issues rather than hold
out for sweeping changes that are harder to implement.
Finally, people want companies and business leaders to help
drive change:
- 85 percent of respondents believe that citizens and companies
working together will have a more meaningful impact.
- 77 percent welcome corporate involvement in addressing major
issues.
Gregoire Verdeaux said: “In countries across the world, citizens
are tired of policymaking logjams and eager for constructive
change. In the area of tobacco harm reduction, PMI has long
advocated for a sensible approach that prioritizes the interests of
current adult smokers and public health. By having balanced and
inclusive discussions about the science behind better alternatives
and adopting a more people-centric approach, we can accelerate the
end of cigarettes. More than a billion people continue to smoke. We
must—and can—do better, and that starts with open, fact-based
dialogue.”
For additional information and to access the full global data
set, visit www.pmi.com/hearallvoices.
Survey Methodology
Povaddo conducted the online survey on behalf of PMI between
February 5 and 23, 2022. The survey was fielded among 44,000+
general population adults aged 21 and older in 22 countries:
Argentina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Colombia, Costa Rica, the Czech
Republic, Dominican Republic, France, Germany, Greece, Italy,
Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, the Philippines, Portugal, Serbia, South
Africa, South Korea, Spain, the United Kingdom, and the United
States. Around 2,000 interviews were conducted in each country
(approximately equally split between adults who do and do not use
nicotine-containing products). The data are weighted to be
representative of the online population in each country on the
following variables: age, gender, region, and nicotine use. The
results are accurate to a margin of error of ±1 percent.
Philip Morris International: Delivering a Smoke-Free
Future
Philip Morris International (PMI) is a leading international
tobacco company working to deliver a smoke-free future and evolving
its portfolio for the long term to include products outside of the
tobacco and nicotine sector. The company’s current product
portfolio primarily consists of cigarettes and smoke-free products,
including heat-not-burn, vapor, and oral nicotine products, which
are sold in markets outside the U.S. Since 2008, PMI has invested
more than USD 9 billion to develop, scientifically substantiate,
and commercialize innovative smoke-free products for adults who
would otherwise continue to smoke, with the goal of completely
ending the sale of cigarettes. This includes the building of
world-class scientific assessment capabilities, notably in the
areas of preclinical systems toxicology, clinical and behavioral
research, as well as post-market studies. The U.S. Food and Drug
Administration (FDA) has authorized the marketing of versions of
PMI’s IQOS Platform 1 devices and consumables as modified risk
tobacco products (MRTPs), finding that exposure modification orders
for these products are appropriate to promote the public health. As
of March 31, 2022, PMI’s smoke-free products are available for sale
in 71 markets, and PMI estimates that approximately 12.7 million
adults around the world, excluding Russia and Ukraine, have already
switched to IQOS and stopped smoking. With a strong foundation and
significant expertise in life sciences, in February 2021 PMI
announced its ambition to expand into wellness and healthcare areas
and deliver innovative products and solutions that aim to address
unmet consumer and patient needs. For more information, please
visit www.pmi.com and www.pmiscience.com.
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Philip Morris International
David Fraser Philip Morris International T. +41 (0)79 843 8603
E. david.fraser@pmi.com
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