British American Tobacco, in partnership with Romania’s ANPC, has launched a campaign to combat youth access to tobacco and nicotine products. The initiative, “Choose Responsibly for a Clean Commercial Behaviour,” is a critical effort to educate retailers and youths about stricter regulations that prohibit the sale of tobacco, e-cigarettes, and even nicotine-free vaping products to minors. This alliance underscores the commitment to promote a responsible retail landscape and highlights the importance of adhering to laws designed to protect young individuals from the harmful effects of nicotine and tobacco usage. Through engagement and information dissemination, the campaign is poised to make significant strides in ensuring that young people are shielded from these substances and that retailers comply fully with the new restrictions.
Campaign Launch and Legislative Support
This year’s campaign is especially noteworthy due to concurrent legislative changes that strengthen the campaign’s message. A blanket ban on e-cigarette sales to minors in Romania now encompasses products with and without nicotine. Additionally, the sales of such products from vending machines have been banned, a bold move aligned with European Union efforts to mitigate minor consumption of nicotine products. BAT’s investment in this campaign is instrumental in broadcasting these legal adjustments nationwide.In executing the campaign, BAT has utilized its extensive network, which spans about 32,000 retail outlets and various public spaces in Bucharest. The campaign involves detailed communication to ensure that all partner retailers are fully informed and compliant with the new regulations. It reflects BAT’s dedication to corporate responsibility and its role in fostering a sales culture that prioritizes the protection of minors from the potential harms of nicotine.A United Front Against Youth Nicotine Consumption
The “Choose Responsibly for a Clean Commercial Behaviour” initiative, strengthened by ANPC since 2019, underscores a collective commitment towards curtailing underage access to tobacco. Ileana Dumitru from BAT reiterates their staunch position against youth reach to such products, a view that resonates with ANPC’s Vice President Sebastian Hotca, who stresses the need for strict oversight and community reporting of infractions.The campaign aims to foster responsible retail practices, with ANPC offering tools like a consumer hotline to support this cause. BAT’s dedication also reflects in its sustainable operations and recognition as a Global Top Employer, mirroring a corporate culture that prizes public health.In Romania, BAT and ANPC are at the forefront of shielding the youth from tobacco exposure. Their united front exemplifies a corporate conscience that not only upholds public health but also drives forward the vision for a tobacco-free future for the next generation.
