Cigarette Smuggling and British American Tobacco in Lebanon
Author Information
Author(s): Rima Nakkash, Kate Lee
Primary Institution: American University of Beirut
Hypothesis
What strategies do British American Tobacco and other transnational tobacco companies use to access the Lebanese market?
Conclusion
Transnational tobacco companies have exploited weak governance and political instability in Lebanon to engage in cigarette smuggling, undermining public health efforts.
Supporting Evidence
- Tobacco consumption in the Middle East grew by 24.3% between 1990 and 1997.
- Smoking prevalence in Lebanon was 46% for adult males and 35% for females in 2002.
- Tobacco smuggling has been a longstanding issue in Lebanon, exacerbated by political instability.
Takeaway
This study shows that tobacco companies have been sneaky and used illegal ways to sell cigarettes in Lebanon, taking advantage of the country's problems.
Methodology
Analysis of internal industry documents, local language secondary sources, and industry publications.
Potential Biases
Potential bias in the interpretation of industry documents and reliance on secondary sources.
Limitations
The study relies on historical documents, which may not capture the full current context.
Participant Demographics
The study focuses on the Lebanese market and does not provide specific demographic data on participants.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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