Philip Morris International responds to Why are we still selling cigarettes: Stopping sales cannot solve the problem, promoting consumer transformation is the key

Philip Morris International responds to "Why are we still selling cigarettes": Stopping sales cannot solve the problem, promoting consumer transformation is the key

Philip Morris International (PMI) recently responded to the long-standing controversy on the LinkedIn platform, "Why are we still selling cigarettes?", emphasizing that promoting a smoke-free future requires reducing cigarette demand rather than directly banning sales. The chief communications officer said that simply stopping the sale of cigarettes will not solve the demand problem, but will only shift the market to illegal transactions or other brands.

 

Recently, Philip Morris International (PMI) responded to a long-standing public concern on the social media brand platform LinkedIn: "Why is PMI still selling cigarettes?" PMI pointed out that in order to achieve a smoke-free future, it is necessary to gradually reduce the demand for cigarettes rather than simply banning sales.

 

The company listed the following three reasons:

 

1. Consumer behavior is difficult to change quickly: PMI's goal is to promote smoke-free alternatives to adult smokers who have not yet quit smoking, and this behavior change takes time. The company emphasized that banning cigarettes will not solve the problem without changes in consumer behavior. Consumers may turn to competing brands or illegal markets, which will only make tobacco control more complicated.

 

2. Legal restrictions hinder product diversification: In some countries, current laws only allow the sale of traditional tobacco products (such as cigarettes and cigars). This legal environment has limited the promotion of PMI's smoke-free products and delayed the company's progress towards a smoke-free future.

 

3. Shareholder responsibilities need to be balanced: As a public company, PMI must balance the interests of shareholders and has a responsibility to shareholders to continue to drive business growth. By gradually moving away from the cigarette business, we are transforming in a sustainable way. But it is unrealistic to expect a company to stop its successful product line in one day.

 

Executive response: Reducing cigarette demand is the key

 

PMI Chief Communications Officer Dr. Moira Gilchrist emphasized in the video that simply stopping cigarette sales will not eradicate market demand.

Dr. Moira Gilchrist, Chief Communications Officer of PMI

 

"If Philip Morris International stops selling cigarettes tomorrow, it won't change anything. The demand will still exist and other market players will fill the gap." She said that pushing consumers away from smoking behavior is a long-term social change.

 

Gilchrist said that what needs to be done is reducing the demand for cigarettes in the long term, not just simply stopping production. She pointed out that since she joined PMI in 2006, all the company's revenue at that time came from cigarette sales. Today, the company has gradually reduced its dependence on cigarettes and promoted the development of smoke-free products.

 

"The speed of PMI's transformation in the past few years has surprised many people, and the data we publish is transparent and verifiable, which proves our efforts."