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On Tuesday, the Tobacco and Vapes Bill – intended to prevent British children from ever legally being able to smoke – started its journey through UK Parliament. If passed, it will give the country some of the toughest anti-smoking measures in the world. Take a brisk 30-minute stroll north through Covent Garden to the British Museum, though, and you’ll find tobacco is viewed in a different light.
Tom Anstey | Planet Attractions | 07 Nov 2024
On Tuesday, the Tobacco and Vapes Bill – intended to prevent British children from ever legally being able to smoke – started its journey through UK Parliament. If passed, it will give the country some of the toughest anti-smoking measures in the world. Take a brisk 30-minute stroll north through Covent Garden to the British Museum, though, and you’ll find tobacco is viewed in a different light.
The museum has acquired almost 2,500 art objects to date with funding from Japan Tobacco International (JTI), which owns the brands Benson & Hedges, Winston, Camel, and Silk Cut. In the UK, smoking kills nearly 100,000 a people each year.
The British Museum has recently been called “out of touch” by environmentalists for accepting $65 million from oil giant BP to help it deliver its mega-revamp over the next decade. Nicholas Cullinan, who became the museum’s director in June, said about BP’s donation, “I think you have to have very good, clear reasons for turning down money that would help to keep the British Museum free to the public.”
It remains to be seen how he will answer questions about the museum’s relationship with JTI.
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