26 Apr Tobacco, Vaping Industries Enhance Public Image Through Donations for Coronavirus Relief
Tobacco and vaping industries are viewing the coronavirus as an opportunity to boost their public image on social media through charitable donations to their community and by offering freebies, protective gear, doorstep deliveries, and festive pandemic-themed discounts to their customers. Some of the world’s biggest tobacco companies, like Philip Morris International, donated 50 ventilators to the government of Greece where they have one of the highest smoking rates in all of Europe, and Altria, the maker of Marlboro cigarettes, donated a $1-million relief investment to help support vulnerable residents who surround its headquarters in Virginia. Vape manufacturers and retailers are also joining in and donating bottles of hand sanitizer to local police and fire departments across the country.
Anti-smoking advocates, however, are quick to notice the immorality behind the industries’ actions. Matthew Myers, president of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, stated in an interview “it’s as if they don’t realize they’re in the business of destroying lungs… it makes the word ‘hypocrisy’ feel feeble.” The FDA recently warned the public that individuals that smoke are at an elevated risk for complications if they contract COVID-19. Health officials state that smoking or vaping damages the lungs and weakens a person’s ability to fight off respiratory infections, which then heightens their risk of developing chronic lung conditions that can be detrimental once infected. Scientists also note that e-cigarettes can be efficient carriers of the virus since they are frequently passed around and shared, smokers often touch their face and mouth, and the smoke vapor can spread infectious particles to people and surfaces nearby. Myers believes that with the ongoing pandemic, it should serve as a “wake up call” for the community to recognize the harmful effects of smoking and vaping.