Tobaco Company Offers Perks to British Parliamentary Aides

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Nick Harris, the corporate affairs manager of Gallaher Group, the world's third largest tobacco company and the British subsidiary of Japan Tobacco, offered perks of free entertainment to aides working for members of the British Parliament (MPs) in advance of legislation that would ban cigarette displays in stores. Harris offered the aides tickets to the celebrity dance show "Strictly Come Dancing," roughly the British equivalent of "Dancing with the Stars." Tickets were valued at 47.25 British pounds (about $69 U.S.). After the UK instituted a comprehensive ban on tobacco advertising and promotion, cigarette displays in stores started growing in size and prominence, using bright lights and flashy signage that attract youth to smoking. The bill, introduced by UK Health Minister Michael McGimpsey, would remove cigarette displays in shops and restrict underage access to cigarette vending machines. Japan Tobacco distributes Benson & Hedges, Silk Cut, Camel and Winston brands.