A poll conducted on behalf of Philip Morris by Povaddo last February, the results of which were published on 13 June, showed that the vast majority of the public in the 22 countries supported dialogue and the inclusion of dissent by those in rule, about decisions also concerning smoking and the enhanced role played by those interviewed in shaping them. The majority of respondents disagree with extreme solutions and focused initiatives and agree to find the average in every issue that may concern them.
90% of respondents believe that in order to solve the most pressing social challenges, leaders must consider all prospects – even those that go against their own. 88 percent said they would be more likely to vote for leaders who listen to all sides of an issue and adopt sensible approaches that improve the lives of ordinary people.
Less than a third of respondents (31%) who were all adults believe that the way politicians handle critical issues in their country reflects their views. More than three-quarters of respondents trust and prefer stepping progress on social issues to taking hardcore action and drastic initiatives that are harder to implement.
82% of respondents agreed with the statement that “There will always be different views on how to deal with the big issues facing the country. “In order to make real progress on these issues, the best solutions are achieved when a middle ground can be found between the two sides of the debate.”
Eighty-five percent of respondents believe that the citizens and companies they work with will have a more substantial impact. 77 percent welcome corporate involvement in addressing important issues.
77 percent agree that the very often overlooked prospects of those directly affected should be included in regulatory discussions. 75 percent agree that society’s expectations of complete abstinence from harmful substances such as nicotine and alcohol are not feasible, and therefore the government should take steps to reduce the harm of these products. 72 percent agree that their governments should consider the role that alternative products can play in making their countries safe.
The sample for the study consisted of 46,622 adults over the age of 21 from 22 countries, which was conducted on behalf of Philip Morris by Povaddo during February 2022 and was published on 13 June. One thousand of the sample for each country are smokers or nicotine users and the other thousand were not. The pollster take their name from the Latin pov = public opinion and addo = inspiration.
Participating countries were Argentina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Colombia, Costa Rica, Czech Republic, Dominican Republic, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, Philippines, Portugal, Serbia, South Korea, Spain, United Kingdom and USA.
Vice President Philip Morris states: “If we are to meet the challenges we face as a society in a meaningful and rapid way, we need a more balanced and inclusive approach. This includes policy decisions that take into account first and foremost the most affected people – ensuring that their voices are heard and their needs met – and then bring all relevant parties to the table, including experts, private companies, community leaders citizens and others who can contribute to resolving the issues under consideration “.
Bring Back Smoking Freedom 