As shown on this news article,a university has,over the years,compiled a databank of information about why kids(under 24)started smoking,by interviewing them.now a tobbaco company is trying to force them to hand over the information,through the freedom of information act.basicaly,it is data given by the public,so they are saying anyone has a right to see it.i think its disgusting they're even trying to get it and i'l be angry if the courts support the company.
Link below:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-tayside-central-14744240

I think the question for me is:

What is the legal age for purchasing in the UK? Can kids purchase cigarettes or do they have to be 18 or 21? If there is no legal age to buy them then the information should be made public. If not then limit the information revealed to those people who are legally able to purchase cigarettes at all. If the information is being used on people of legal age to purchase a product then I think it should be allowed. Not that I'm encouraging teens to smoke but it's a legal product so the information should be made public. If the product was soft drinks or candy bars would we be having this same debate?

geeogree : legally,you can smoke and drink at 16,but its ilegall for anyone to buy these products until theyre 18.
Given some people in this survey are under 13 this is the main problem,the tobacco companys wouldnt be allowed to conduct this survey which is a main argument of not allowing them to access this information.
2 points.
1-the uk's policy is to reduce the number of smokers,and given the health problems caused by it,giving the companys the knowledge to hook people from an early age would be bad news.i think a clause needs to be added that if there is sufficient reason to believe the data would be used in a way that would effect the health of citizens in a negative aspect the data should not be disclosed.
2.in legal terms,everything that the university said suggests they recieved the data under a guarantee of confidentiality and that the data would only be used for research.i think that disclosing it is therefore a breach of peoples rights.unless everyone involved gives there consent.
On a somewhat random note i think that everyone should adopt,norways i think,policy. Advertising on tv is not allowed to target kids.i mention this because you said would we be debating it if it was candy or softdrinks.i think health impeding products shouldnt be allowed to advertise.
Ciggaretes have already been banned for tv advertising in the uk,which i suspect is why they want this survey data,to find alternatives to ensure the next generation keep them going.

Legally, they have the right to see it. A confidentiality clause only protects the identity of the person giving the answers, not what the answers were. Ethically, however, I think that the tobacco companies are dogs for trying to get this information.

Elara has pinned the tail on the donkey here. While the people identities are kept safe, the tobacco company still has a right to see the demographics of the people studied.

geeogree makes a good point as well. Just like drinking alcohol, people have a right to smoke cigarettes. Ethically, they should not do it because it damages their bodies.

Elara : dogs is exactly right,theres only one reason they could want it.
AuraBlaze : haha,donkey,thats a new one.
Drinking is not as bad in my book,as you need to overuse it to cause harm.at any rate i wouldnt aprove of alcohol companys advertising if it was adictive

thenumberone : But alcohol IS addictive... why do you think alcoholics exist. The difference is that most people that drink alcohol don't become addicted, unlike smokers. Yay for addictive chemicals!

Elara : i supose this is true,i have no problem with it though.perhaps all alcohol,tobaco and junk food should be kept off tv then,it definitely influences youthes.

While it does influence the public, it does not make the choose to buy their products --or get addicted to it for that matter. Let me see if I can give you an example. The one time I was at Wrigley Field to see a baseball game with my dad, the kind man sitting next to me offered to buy my dad a beer. My dad politely decline the offer. Do you see what I mean? Despite the fact that my dad was offered the opportunity to have a drink, he chose to not have one. Although he never drinks, that fact is beside the point. It is the same with the youths choosing to smoke. While they are influenced, they should still have been informed to know the inherent risks --not always the case I will admit.

Also, just because advetisements are meant to sell prodects, it does not mean they will always have unethical intentions. I like to use this commercial as an example of an advertisement with a positive message. Can you see the overt or latent reminder to avoid alcohol addiction? Please take it as you will.

AuraBlaze : i didnt actualy mean that these things should not advertise,i meant advertisement aimed at kids/youths should be.
E.g nestly cereal,the dumbest adverts but kids see them and go"that monkey is cool,i need to try that"

It is a shame that they have the right to see it.  What they do is wrong, so it should not be allowed.  People who want to do this should definitely not be able to see it.

thenumberone : The problem is trying to figure out which ads are targeted directly at kids. Just because it has a cartoon in it does that mean it's targeted at kids? There are plenty of adult cartoons. I honestly have no problem with the tobacco company asking for or getting this information. I hate everything about smoking, but the freedom of information act should definitely come into play here.

Technically the Tobacco Companies do have a right to see the information. It wasn't a confidential survey, the information wasn't protected. Under Freedom of Information, Marlboro did have access to that information. It's just like Freedom of the Press in America, the Press has the right to gather information, just like Marlboro did. Even thought they probably aren't going to use the information to stop teenagers from smoking. 






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