Background: Key issues: · Government complacency a serious threat to further gains in tobacco control, with many political leaders claiming enough has been done to reduce smoking rates. · Tobacco industry very active behind the scenes lobbying leaders and making large donations to political parties to purchase access and influence. · Industry also donates to related third parties (e.g. gambling lobby, litter trust) and some not-for-profit organisations as part of their strategy to reinvent themselves as “socially responsible”.

Discussion:

Tobacco industry influence results in long delays and “dumbing down” of government policies to control tobacco. Without a counter-strategy by NGOs, the industry is improving its position as “socially responsible” and exploiting loopholes in electoral accountability laws to target: · Politicians and political parties at all levels of government; · Businesses – especially hospitality, retailing and gambling; · Front groups – scientists undermining research on secondhand smoke etc.; · Councils – BAT's Butt Littering Trust; · Educational Institutions o universities: tobacco company sponsorships, presence at careers fairs, on advisory boards; o schools: tobacco-sponsored youth/health/drug education projects etc.; and · Community and charity groups – tobacco sponsorships of some not-for-profits.

A denormalisation strategy requires: · Identification of areas of tobacco influence; · Assessment of strategies for reducing influence; · Actions to reduce their influence; and · Major focus on ending political donations through legislative reform, as in Canada in 2006.

Conclusion: We will show how a denormalisation strategy can deliver incremental results and that support for ending political donations is gathering momentum in community, academic and political spheres.