Dirty Ashtray Awards go to tobacco giant

A TOBACCO multinational has been awarded both the Dirty Ashtray Award and the Exploding Vape Award, with health groups accusing it of escalating efforts to influence Australia’s tobacco and nicotine policy debate.

British American Tobacco received both gongs from the Australian Council on Smoking and Health and the Australian Medical Association, the first time a single organisation has taken out both awards.

AMA president Dr Danielle McMullen said the Dirty Ashtray Award reflected the scale of the company’s campaign.

“Through media appearances and commentary, BAT executives have reframed strong tobacco control as the cause of illicit trade while portraying tax cuts as a public good — claims at odds with independent evidence, but consistent with long-standing industry playbooks,” Dr McMullen said.

The company also received the Exploding Vape Award, with the organisations pointing to its promotion of vaping and heated tobacco products under what it describes as a harm reduction strategy.

ACOSH chief executive Laura Hunter said British American Tobacco had promoted its 2025 Omni™ report as a major scientific assessment of so-called smokeless tobacco products.

“BAT sold Omni™ as a serious scientific review. Our analysis shows it’s anything but — it’s a curated sales document dressed up as evidence,” Ms Hunter said.

Ms Hunter said the dual awards highlighted what ACOSH and the AMA see as the industry working on multiple fronts to shape public debate.

“BAT’s dual win shows how the industry is undermining taxes, pushing new nicotine products, and inserting itself into policy discussions under the guise of credibility,” she said.

Dr McMullen said the media had a responsibility to scrutinise industry influence.

“When industry-linked voices dominate the airwaves presented as neutral experts, it confuses people about the risks of smoking and vaping and distracts from evidence-based measures that save lives,” she said.