The Problem:

Worldwide, cigarette smoking causes three million deaths annually. Two million in the developed world and one million in the developing world.

The World Health Organization, the Harvard School of Public Health, and the World Bank conclude that "by 2020, tobacco is expected to kill more people than any single disease, surpassing even the HIV epidemic".

While many regulations to control tobacco have been enacted on the local, state and national level, the multinational tobacco companies have shifted their focus to the international community to ensure their growth and profits.

As consumption declines in their domestic markets, transnational tobacco corporations (primarily Philip Morris and RJR Nabisco in the United States and British American Tobacco in the United Kingdom) seek new markets overseas through exports, acquisitions and joint ventures such that smoking prevalence rates are growing in the developing world.

Goal Statement:

The San Francisco Tobacco Free Coalition's intent is to reduce the global impact of the multinational tobacco companies by holding them to the same standards both nationally and internationally.

The Coalition recognizes the need to think globally and act locally in the development of a Global Tobacco Control Policy Framework .

Mission Statement:

The San Francisco Tobacco Free Coalition will actively work in solidarity with domestic and international grassroots communities, groups, organizations, government agencies, and Ministries of Health to promote social, economic, and environmental justice.

Findings:

The transnational tobacco companies advertise and market their products internationally in ways long banned in the United States, such as selling their cigarettes without health warnings and advertising on television. Furthermore the transnational tobacco companies also interfere with the national public health laws of countries via political and commercial pressure to open markets and to promote their product under the guise of free trade agreements and economic help.

Howard Barnum, Senior Economist for the World Bank, concludes in his study, The Economic Burden of the Global Trade in Tobacco, "tobacco consumption provides a net economic loss, and anti-tobacco policies are a cost-effective way to save lives and benefit the economy".

Tobacco production involves a great deal of pesticides and is responsible for deforestation in the Brazilian Rainforest. Furthermore worldwide tobacco production uses 12% of all timber felled worldwide such that the land to grow tobacco could feed 20 million people worldwide.

The transnational tobacco companies wield power and influence through political contributions. Philip Morris, makers of Marlboro cigarettes, was at the top of the list for lobbying expenditures in the first six months of 1996 and also sponsored the 1996 US presidential debates.

The San Francisco Tobacco Free Coalition has successfully advocated for several tobacco control ordinances in San Francisco, including the banning of vending machines, self-service displays, tobacco and alcohol advertising on City property, smoke-free worksites and restaurants.

The Food and Drug Administration has promulgated regulations that make it illegal to sell tobacco products to persons under the age of 18 and requires merchants to check photo identification for anyone under 27. Beginning August 28, 1997, the regulations will ban vending machines and self-service displays; free samples or giveaways of tobacco products; promotional item sales or giveaways; single cigarettes, and packs with fewer than 20 cigarettes. The regulations will also ban outdoor advertising within 1000 feet of schools or public playgrounds, and reduce tobacco advertising in youth oriented publications and beyond 1000 feet of schools or public playgrounds to black and white text only. In addition, tobacco sponsorship of events will be prohibited within 2 years.

The 49th World Health Assembly, the annual meeting of all Member States of the World Health Organization, has called on all Member States "to move progressively towards the adoption of comprehensive tobacco control policies and also to deal with aspects of tobacco control that transcend national boundaries". Furthermore the 49th World Health Assembly called for the development of an international framework convention for tobacco control in the form of an international treaty to which signatory states would agree to pursue broadly stated goals.

The World Health Assembly recognizes that tobacco use is a major public health problem, but most of the solutions are to be found outside the health sector, by addressing issues of agriculture, trade, taxation, advertising, package labeling, personnel management, and many others.

Resolutions:

The San Francisco Tobacco Free Coalition answers the call of the Forty-ninth World Health Assembly, the annual meeting of all Member States of the World Health Organization, "to move progressively towards the adoption of comprehensive tobacco control policies and also to deal with aspects of tobacco control that transcend national boundaries" by adopting this Comprehensive Global Tobacco Control Policy Framework;

The San Francisco Tobacco Free Coalition will actively work with local, State, National, and International policy makers to adopt and promote this Global Tobacco Control Policy Framework;

The San Francisco Tobacco Free Coalition recognizes that a "framework convention does not try to resolve all the substantive issues in a single document" and that the Global Tobacco Control Framework will be expanded and developed as new information and links with other groups are made.