Deadly Industry: Challenging Big Tobacco
Tobacco Control Research Group, University of Bath
The tobacco industry has spent decades honing its deadly strategies to maximise its profits. Despite the well-known dangers of tobacco there are still 8 million tobacco-related deaths each year.
Why, decades after it’s deceptions were uncovered, is this industry still so powerful and profitable?
This new podcast series, based on ground-breaking research, reveals the tactics of the tobacco industry. Experts from the University of Bath and further afield consider the progress that has been made in countering this deadly industry and what still needs to be done.
We also explore how these same strategies provide a playbook for other industries that trade in unhealthy commodities and make billions at the expense of our, and the planet’s, health.
Join us as we hold this deadly industry to account.
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Environmental damage
Deadly Industry: Challenging Big Tobacco
02/25/25 • 35 min
Welcome to Deadly Industry: Challenging Big Tobacco, the podcast where we explore the tactics used by the tobacco industry as it pursues profit over health.
In the penultimate episode of series 1, Dr. Rosemary Hiscock explains about how the tobacco industry contributes to climate change. We cover how tobacco production uses up precious natural resources and harms farmers, what happens to the waste from tobacco products and e-cigarettes and tobacco company greenwashing.
Dr. Rosemary Hiscock is a Research Associate in the Tobacco Control Research Group at the University of Bath. Rosemary’s current work includes investigating tobacco industry supply chains encompassing study of struggling farmers in low and middle income countries and study of transnational companies.
Sources used in this episode include:
- https://doi.org/10.1136/tobaccocontrol-2020-056245
- https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.8b01533
- https://doi.org/10.1007/s13280-019-01148-3
- https://tobaccotactics.org/article/plastics-environment-tobacco-industry/
- https://tobaccotactics.org/article/tobacco-and-the-environment/
- https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789241512497
Deadly Industry: Challenging Big Tobacco is a weekly podcast from the Tobacco Control Research Group at the University of Bath. It is hosted by Louis Laurence, produced by Kate White and edited by Sacha Goodwin. The production manager is Jacqueline Oliver.
To get in touch, e-mail us at [email protected] or find us on X, LinkedIn and Bluesky.
Find more episodes here: https://shows.acast.com/deadly-industry-challenging-big-tobacco.
The views expressed in this episode by the podcast participants (host and guests) are their own and do not reflect the views of the University of Bath or any other affiliate groups.
For information on the Tobacco Control Research Group's funding sources please read the following statement: https://www.bath.ac.uk/corporate-information/tobacco-control-research-group-statement-on-funding-sources/.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The truth
Deadly Industry: Challenging Big Tobacco
02/11/25 • 32 min
Welcome to Deadly Industry: Challenging Big Tobacco, the podcast where we explore the tactics used by the tobacco industry as it pursues profit over health.
This week, we are joined by Dr. Allen Gallagher to uncover the murky world of illicit tobacco products. In this episode, Louis and Allen discuss what illicit trade actually is, tobacco industry involvement in the illicit tobacco trade and methods to tackle tobacco smuggling.
Dr. Allen Gallagher is a research fellow at the Tobacco Control Research Group (TCRG) at the University of Bath, UK. While interested in various issues related to tobacco control and commercial determinants of health, Allen’s primary research focus to date has been to explore contemporary tobacco industry involvement in the illicit tobacco trade and related policy, with him having given evidence on this topic at the European Parliament and having contributed to the UK chapter of the World Bank’s global review of country experiences confronting illicit tobacco trade.
Sources used in this episode include:
- https://doi.org/10.1136/tobaccocontrol-2019-055094
- https://doi.org/10.31389/jied.223
- https://www.tobaccotactics.org/article/illicit-tobacco-trade/
- https://www.tobaccotactics.org/topics/illicit/
- https://documents.worldbank.org/en/publication/documents-reports/documentdetail/677451548260528135/confronting-illicit-tobacco-trade-a-global-review-of-country-experiences
Deadly Industry: Challenging Big Tobacco is a weekly podcast from the Tobacco Control Research Group at the University of Bath. It is hosted by Louis Laurence, produced by Kate White and edited by Sacha Goodwin. The production manager is Jacqueline Oliver.
To get in touch, e-mail us at [email protected] or find us on X, LinkedIn and Bluesky.
Find more episodes here: https://shows.acast.com/deadly-industry-challenging-big-tobacco
The views expressed in this episode by the podcast participants (host and guests) are their own and do not reflect the views of the University of Bath or any other affiliate groups.
For information on the Tobacco Control Research Group's funding sources please read the following statement: https://www.bath.ac.uk/corporate-information/tobacco-control-research-group-statement-on-funding-sources/.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The Big Picture
Deadly Industry: Challenging Big Tobacco
01/28/25 • 41 min
Welcome to Deadly Industry: Challenging Big Tobacco, the podcast where we explore the tactics used by the tobacco industry as it pursues profit over health.
For our first episode, our host Louis is joined by Professor Anna Gilmore to break down the tactics used by the tobacco industry. Louis and Anna talk through the definition of tobacco industry, the societal issues and health harms it causes, how the industry influences public health policy and how these tactics are replicated by other harmful industries.
A clinician by background, Professor Anna Gilmore trained in public health in the UK, is currently Professor of Public Health, Founding Director of the Tobacco Control Research Group and Co-Director and founder of the Centre for 21st Century Public Health at the University of Bath. Her work focuses on the commercial determinants of health, evaluates the impacts of public policies on health and has led to substantial policy impacts from local to global level. Anna has over 350 publications including over 200 peer reviewed articles and is a member of various international and national expert groups.
Sources used in this episode include:
- https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed.1002125
- https://doi.org/10.1093/oso/9780197578742.003.0011
- https://doi.org/10.1136/tobaccocontrol-2021-056687
- https://www.tobaccotactics.org/article/framework-convention-on-tobacco-control/
Deadly Industry: Challenging Big Tobacco is a weekly podcast from the Tobacco Control Research Group at the University of Bath. It is hosted by Louis Laurence, produced by Kate White and edited by Sacha Goodwin. The production manager is Jacqueline Oliver.
To get in touch, e-mail us at [email protected] or find us on X, LinkedIn and Bluesky.
Find more episodes here: https://shows.acast.com/deadly-industry-challenging-big-tobacco
The views expressed in this episode by the podcast participants (host and guests) are their own and do not reflect the views of the University of Bath or any other affiliate groups.
For information on the Tobacco Control Research Group's funding sources please read the following statement: https://www.bath.ac.uk/corporate-information/tobacco-control-research-group-statement-on-funding-sources/
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Coming soon
Deadly Industry: Challenging Big Tobacco
12/20/24 • 1 min
Deadly Industry: Challenging Big Tobacco - coming in January 2025!
Stay tuned for a new a weekly podcast from the Tobacco Control Research Group at the University of Bath.
Find more episodes here: https://shows.acast.com/deadly-industry-challenging-big-tobacco
The views expressed in this episode by the podcast participants (host and guests) are their own and do not reflect the views of the University of Bath or any other affiliate groups.
For information on the Tobacco Control Research Group's funding sources please read the following statement: https://www.bath.ac.uk/corporate-information/tobacco-control-research-group-statement-on-funding-sources/.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Selling harm
Deadly Industry: Challenging Big Tobacco
02/18/25 • 34 min
Welcome to Deadly Industry: Challenging Big Tobacco, the podcast where we explore the tactics used by the tobacco industry as it pursues profit over health.
For episode 6, Jorge Alday dials in from New York to speak about the marketing strategies of the tobacco industry. Jorge talks Louis through the history of tobacco marketing from the 18th century, why tobacco companies sponsor sports events and how the industry targets its marketing towards specific communities.
Jorge Alday has 25 years of experience in global health, health care, philanthropy and technology. Currently, he leads Vital Strategies’ strategic communication work with STOP, a global tobacco industry watchdog. In this role, Jorge leads a team that is dedicated to telling compelling stories and counter-narratives that challenge tobacco industry messaging and misinformation.
Sources used in this episode include:
- https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0087389
- https://www.tobaccotactics.org/article/advertising-strategy/
- https://exposetobacco.org/news/tobacco-social-media-regulations/
- https://www.vitalstrategies.org/resources/term/
Deadly Industry: Challenging Big Tobacco is a weekly podcast from the Tobacco Control Research Group at the University of Bath. It is hosted by Louis Laurence, produced by Kate White and edited by Sacha Goodwin. The production manager is Jacqueline Oliver.
* Around 18.00 Jorge refers to a menthol cigarette ban in the U.S. This podcast was recorded during the previous U.S. administration and the proposed rule has since been withdrawn, at least in part, due to tobacco industry lobbying.
To get in touch, e-mail us at [email protected] or find us on X, LinkedIn and Bluesky.
Find more episodes here: https://shows.acast.com/deadly-industry-challenging-big-tobacco
The views expressed in this episode by the podcast participants (host and guests) are their own and do not reflect the views of the University of Bath or any other affiliate groups.
For information on the Tobacco Control Research Group's funding sources please read the following statement: https://www.bath.ac.uk/corporate-information/tobacco-control-research-group-statement-on-funding-sources/
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Fighting regulation
Deadly Industry: Challenging Big Tobacco
01/28/25 • 38 min
Welcome to Deadly Industry: Challenging Big Tobacco, the podcast where we explore the tactics used by the tobacco industry as it pursues profit over health.
In our third podcast episode, Andrew Rowell and Tom Gatehouse speak about why tobacco companies engage in lobbying and political interference. They talk through the impact this has on attempts to protect public health, and the ways in which the industry tailors its interference depending on international context, looking at a TCRG whistle-blower investigation in Southern Africa as an example.
Tom Gatehouse is a Research Assistant at Tobacco Tactics, part of the Tobacco Control Research Group at the University of Bath. In this role he is responsible for researching, writing and reviewing pages for the Tobacco Tactics knowledge exchange platform, as well as working on academic research projects, contributing to media outputs and helping to maintain the Tobacco Tactics website.
Andy Rowell is a journalist and Investigations Lead at the Tobacco Control Research Group. He has written on the tobacco industry since the nineties, and was one of the first editors of TCRG’s Tobacco Tactics.*
Sources used in this episode include:
- https://www.bath.ac.uk/case-studies/the-uk-tobacco-industry-interference-index-2023/
- https://globaltobaccoindex.org/
- https://tobaccotactics.org/article/the-bat-files/
In reference to Tom's comment at 31.50, the UK government noted that they would not consider tobacco industry viewpoints in 2023's consultation on 'creating a smokefree generation'. More information can be found here.
Deadly Industry: Challenging Big Tobacco is a weekly podcast from the Tobacco Control Research Group at the University of Bath. It is hosted by Louis Laurence, produced by Kate White and edited by Sacha Goodwin. The production manager is Jacqueline Oliver.
To get in touch, e-mail us at [email protected] or find us on X, LinkedIn and Bluesky.
Find more episodes here: https://shows.acast.com/deadly-industry-challenging-big-tobacco
The views expressed in this episode by the podcast participants (host and guests) are their own and do not reflect the views of the University of Bath or any other affiliate groups.
For information on the Tobacco Control Research Group's funding sources please read the following statement: https://www.bath.ac.uk/corporate-information/tobacco-control-research-group-statement-on-funding-sources/
*From 1 March Andy will be a visiting fellow at the Tobacco Control Research Group.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Money matters
Deadly Industry: Challenging Big Tobacco
02/04/25 • 34 min
Welcome to Deadly Industry: Challenging Big Tobacco, the podcast where we explore the tactics used by the tobacco industry as it pursues profit over health.
Dr. Rob Branston joins Louis this week to discuss all things tobacco tax. They explore the vast profitability of the tobacco industry, how tobacco taxation works and ways in which companies avoid paying taxes.
Dr. Rob Branston is Associate Professor of Business Economics at the University of Bath School of Management, and is part of the University of Bath's Tobacco Control Research Group. He researches various aspects of the governance and regulation within multiple sectors, with a particular focus on the tobacco industry.
Sources used in this episode include:
- https://www.tobaccotactics.org/article/tobacco-industry-and-tax/
- https://www.tobaccotactics.org/article/price-and-tax/
- https://www.tobaccotactics.org/article/industry-pricing-strategies/
- https://bath.ac.uk/publications/big-tobacco-big-avoidance/attachments/Big_Tobacco_Big_Avoidance.pdf
- https://doi.org/10.18332/tpc/138232
- https://doi.org/10.1136/tobaccocontrol-2021-056630
- https://exposetobacco.org/wp-content/uploads/Price_We_Pay.pdf
Deadly Industry: Challenging Big Tobacco is a weekly podcast from the Tobacco Control Research Group at the University of Bath. It is hosted by Louis Laurence, produced by Kate White and edited by Sacha Goodwin. The production manager is Jacqueline Oliver.
To get in touch, e-mail us at [email protected] or find us on X, LinkedIn and Bluesky.
Find more episodes here: https://shows.acast.com/deadly-industry-challenging-big-tobacco
The views expressed in this episode by the podcast participants (host and guests) are their own and do not reflect the views of the University of Bath or any other affiliate groups.
For information on the Tobacco Control Research Group's funding sources please read the following statement: https://www.bath.ac.uk/corporate-information/tobacco-control-research-group-statement-on-funding-sources/.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Political influence
Deadly Industry: Challenging Big Tobacco
01/28/25 • 41 min
Welcome to Deadly Industry: Challenging Big Tobacco, the podcast where we explore the tactics used by the tobacco industry as it pursues profit over health.
This week, Dr. Britta Matthes and Dr. Karen Evans-Reeves join us to dig into tobacco control regulation. They discuss why it is important and how the tobacco industry tries to weaken policy to protect its profits, including the ways it tailors its interference depending on international context.
Dr. Britta Matthes is a Research Fellow in the Tobacco Control Research Group at the University of Bath. Britta’s research focuses on tobacco industry interference in policymaking, and the role of tobacco control advocacy. She also researches intimidation in tobacco control and other areas of public health.
Dr. Karen Evans-Reeves is an honorary research fellow of the Tobacco Control Research Group – she has been associated with the group since 2008. Karen’s research focuses on the behaviour of the tobacco industry and its affiliates, particularly in response to regulatory threat.
Sources used in this episode include:
- https://tobaccotactics.org/article/plain-packaging-opposition-in-the-uk-2012-consultation/
- https://tobaccotactics.org/article/plain-packaging-in-the-uk-second-consultation/
- https://doi.org/10.1136/tobaccocontrol-2020-056245
- https://blogs.bmj.com/tc/2021/05/05/menthol-tobacco-companies-are-exploiting-loopholes-in-the-uks-characterising-flavours-ban/
- https://doi.org/10.1136/tobaccocontrol-2020-055769
Please note, this episode was recorded in September 2024 and does not necessarily reflect the most recent developments in the UK Tobacco and Vapes Bill. More info here.
Deadly Industry: Challenging Big Tobacco is a weekly podcast from the Tobacco Control Research Group at the University of Bath. It is hosted by Louis Laurence, produced by Kate White and edited by Sacha Goodwin. The production manager is Jacqueline Oliver.
To get in touch, e-mail us at [email protected] or find us on X, LinkedIn and Bluesky.
Find more episodes here: https://shows.acast.com/deadly-industry-challenging-big-tobacco
The views expressed in this episode by the podcast participants (host and guests) are their own and do not reflect the views of the University of Bath or any other affiliate groups.
You can find information on the Tobacco Control Research Group's funding sources here.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Science for profit
Deadly Industry: Challenging Big Tobacco
03/04/25 • 31 min
Welcome to Deadly Industry: Challenging Big Tobacco, the podcast where we explore the tactics used by the tobacco industry as it pursues profit over health.
It’s the final episode of series 1 and Dr. Sophie Braznell joins Louis to discuss the tobacco industry’s manipulation of science. They delve into how the industry interferes in the conception and publication of scientific studies and strategies to counter this misuse of science across health harming industries.
Dr. Sophie Braznell is a Research Associate (coordination) in the Tobacco Control Research Group at the University of Bath. She has a background in STEM and the Health and Social Care public sector. Sophie has acquired extensive knowledge on heated tobacco products and tobacco industry science.
Sources used in this episode include:
- https://doi.org/10.1093/ntr/ntae101
- https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0253272
- https://www.tobaccotactics.org/article/influencing-science/
- https://www.tobaccotactics.org/article/influencing-science-case-studies/
- https://www.tobaccotactics.org/article/influencing-science-pmis-covert-science-in-japan/
* At 17.05 Sophie references the Foundation for a Smoke-Free World (FSFW). As of May 2024 this organisation has been renamed Global Action to End Smoking (GAES). Following publication of this podcast, GAES contacted us to deny it is a lobbying group, saying that it is prohibited from lobbying by its legal status. It also stated that it has terminated its agreement with PMI and adopted a policy of not accepting tobacco industry funding. You can read our Tobacco Tactics analysis of GAES here.
Deadly Industry: Challenging Big Tobacco is a weekly podcast from the Tobacco Control Research Group at the University of Bath. It is hosted by Louis Laurence, produced by Kate White and edited by Sacha Goodwin. The production manager is Jacqueline Oliver.
To get in touch, e-mail us at [email protected] or find us on X, LinkedIn and Bluesky.
Find more episodes here: https://shows.acast.com/deadly-industry-challenging-big-tobacco.
The views expressed in this episode by the podcast participants (host and guests) are their own and do not reflect the views of the University of Bath or any other affiliate groups.
For information on the Tobacco Control Research Group's funding sources please read the following statement: https://www.bath.ac.uk/corporate-information/tobacco-control-research-group-statement-on-funding-sources/.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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FAQ
How many episodes does Deadly Industry: Challenging Big Tobacco have?
Deadly Industry: Challenging Big Tobacco currently has 9 episodes available.
What topics does Deadly Industry: Challenging Big Tobacco cover?
The podcast is about News, Society & Culture, Tax, Policy, Podcasts, Economics, Science, Health Policy, Business and Politics.
What is the most popular episode on Deadly Industry: Challenging Big Tobacco?
The episode title 'Selling harm' is the most popular.
What is the average episode length on Deadly Industry: Challenging Big Tobacco?
The average episode length on Deadly Industry: Challenging Big Tobacco is 32 minutes.
How often are episodes of Deadly Industry: Challenging Big Tobacco released?
Episodes of Deadly Industry: Challenging Big Tobacco are typically released every 7 days.
When was the first episode of Deadly Industry: Challenging Big Tobacco?
The first episode of Deadly Industry: Challenging Big Tobacco was released on Dec 20, 2024.
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