Death Marketing-1

JTI’s brand promotion through unsolicited phone call

As more and more people are forcing to stay indoors during coronavirus pandemic, the cunning promotion tactic of Japan Tobacco International (JTI) has managed to find its way into people’s homes. The company is promoting its cigarette brand under the pretense of a survey on smoking. People are getting unsolicited phone calls from the number 8809612452800. Once the calls are picked up, the agent on the other side informs the recipient that this is a survey on smoking and later asked for their feedback on JTI’s brand LD cigarette. As per Section 5 of the Smoking and Tobacco Products (Usage) Control Act Amended (2013), directly and indirectly advertising tobacco and tobacco products is a punishable offense. However, JTI's unlawful aggressive marketing is now intruding into people's homes. Teenagers and the youth can easily get these unsolicited phone calls and are at high risk of falling victim to such tobacco industry ploy. This anti – public health campaign needs to be stopped through proper implementation of tobacco control law.