International issues in the supply of tobacco: recent changes and implications for alcohol

Addiction. 2000 Dec:95 Suppl 4:S477-89. doi: 10.1080/09652140020013728.

Abstract

This paper reviews international issues in the supply of tobacco and tobacco products, including trade liberalization and globalization. The paper begins with a brief discussion of the theoretical foundations for trade and trade restrictions. This is followed by a description of the treatment of tobacco and tobacco products in recent multi-lateral, regional and bilateral trade agreements, as well as a short discussion of the recent globalization of the tobacco industry. Included in this description is a review of the empirical evidence on the impact of trade liberalization on tobacco use. The implications of two recently proposed international agreements--the Multilateral Agreement on Investments and the Framework Convention for Tobacco Control--are then discussed. The paper concludes by summarizing the theoretical and empirical evidence that shows clearly that trade liberalization has significantly increased tobacco use, particularly in low and middle-income countries, and follows this with a discussion of the lessons learned from tobacco for controlling alcohol supply.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Alcoholic Beverages / supply & distribution*
  • Commerce*
  • Humans
  • International Cooperation
  • Models, Economic
  • Nicotiana*
  • Plants, Toxic*
  • Smoking / epidemiology
  • Tobacco Industry