BMJ  2006;332:548 (4 March), doi:10.1136/bmj.332.7540.548

Letter

Mexico and the tobacco industry

Editorial lost sight of the real enemy

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

EDITOR—In their editorial on the tobacco industry in developing countries Sebrié and Glantz did not take into account potential positive effects and disregarded important accomplishments of Mexico's health ministry in tobacco control.¹

Over the past five years, the ministry, under the leadership of the current minister of public health, Julio Frenk, has implemented several tobacco control initiatives. A tax increase on tobacco products reversed an industry friendly trend set by previous administrations. Restrictions on radio and television advertising have been put into action, and a media campaign will be launched soon to discourage tobacco use. Furthermore, the recent development of an efficient system to monitor and evaluate national trends in tobacco use, especially among young adults, is providing epidemiological data that will be key in guiding medium and long term strategies to reduce tobacco consumption.

To develop and consolidate policies to restrict and control the tobacco industry, constructive . . . [Full text of this article]

National Institute of Public Health (Mexico), Mexico mhernan@insp.mx

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