British American Tobacco's ethical dilemmas and public health concerns

Unethical Business Practices

Some companies are involved in the production and marketing of products that pose significant health risks to consumers. British American Tobacco (BAT) is one such company. With its headquarters in the London, United Kingdom, the company is involved in producing and selling tobacco products in more than 100 countries across the world. Though BAT has been a fairly successful multinational corporation throughout its more than a century of operation, its products have historically raised substantial ethical concerns. Tobacco products have extensively been associated with life threatening health risks such as lung disease and cancer (van der Eijk & Porter, 2013). In fact, critics of tobacco companies have persistently termed the production and marketing of addictive, disease-causing products as unethical and immoral.

As a result, several countries around the world have enacted policies and legislations to restrict the manner in which tobacco products are marketed and distributed. Generally, most countries have banned the advertising of tobacco products, significantly increased taxation on the products, and even prohibited smoking in public places (van der Eijk & Porter, 2013). This has particularly been informed by the need to avoid or minimize the exposure of youths to tobacco products and to reduce tobacco consumption in general. Additionally, it is now mandatory for tobacco companies to place on packaging clear warnings of the risks posed by tobacco consumption. On the other hand, however, proponents of tobacco consumption have argued that it is wrong for a government to interfere with individual choices (van der Eijk & Porter, 2013). They assert that when an adult chooses to use tobacco, they do so without coercion and with full knowledge of the associated consequences, and hence influencing their choice for consumption tantamount to interference on individual preferences. Evidently, tobacco production remains a major dilemma for BAT, particularly in view of balancing between profit motives and public health.

Whereas tobacco consumption is generally viewed as unhealthy, perceptions may differ from culture to culture. In the U.S., for instance, initiation and current smoking levels tend to be higher in White and Hispanic youths compared to their Black counterparts (World Health Organization [WHO], 2010). This difference may be explained by differences in social status. For Whites, smoking often serves a social function. Perceptions of tobacco consumption may also vary from one country to another. Statistics indicate that the prevalence of tobacco smoking is higher in Asian countries, especially China, Japan and Korea compared to most parts of the world (WHO, 2010). In these countries, smoking is generally viewed as a social norm, with most smokers perceiving smoking not to be harmful (WHO, 2010).

On its part, BAT has demonstrated fairly commendable progress in addressing the ethical concerns presented by its products. First, in response to policy and regulatory changes in various countries where the company markets its products, the company has adopted stringent marketing standards to ensure no marketing activity is targeted at youths. From television, radio and print advertising to outdoor advertising, sponsorship and packaging, the company ensures that any marketing activity is directed only to adults. In some countries, the company has abstained totally from the advertising and marketing of tobacco products. Additionally, the company ensures stark health cautions are put on its packaging, clearly informing the consumer of the possible consequences of tobacco consumption. The company has also been committed to producing less risky products as well as sustainably reporting stakeholder engagement. These efforts are evidence of the leadership\'s commitment to addressing the ethical implications of the company\'s products.