Illicit tobacco trade is 'booming': UK newspaper coverage of data funded by transnational tobacco companies.
Karen A Evans-ReevesJenny HatchardAndy RowellAnna B GilmorePublished in: Tobacco control (2020)
PMI engaged a third party, seemingly with the aim of securing media coverage on illicit tobacco positing that standardised packaging would worsen the problem. The predominant focus of articles which featured industry-funded data and information was on counterfeit tobacco despite official data showing tobacco-industry illicit tobacco as the most prevalent. Other jurisdictions considering the policy should anticipate that third parties will promote the illicit-trade argument.