Go Ahead, Have a Cig Kiddo

Why should cigarette manufacturers be permitted complete freedom to target developing countries?

Like any other business, cigarette manufacturers should be able to pursue the objective of profit maximization as long as they fulfill their social obligations and are within the confines of the law (Robbins, 2005). Faced with tightening regulations in developed countries, it makes financial sense for cigarette companies to target their products to foreign consumers whose countries have less restrictive laws. It is the responsibility of national governments, not private enterprises, to concern themselves with the well-being of citizens. If a government decides that smoking has more negative effects on the nation than is tolerable, it will enact laws that will force cigarette companies to conduct business accordingly. Similarly, if consumers do not want to incur the health costs of smoking, they will not buy cigarettes, thereby limiting the profitability of cigarette companies and restricting their expansion. Both governments and consumers have the power to control the operations of cigarette companies, so regardless of which country is targeted, the amount of expansion into that country is always the responsibility of the country itself.