Craig Nabat Founder and President of Freedom Laser Therapy
This is major progress for societal change to have these international sports venues ban smoking and tobacco use in and around their stadiums, especially due to the millions of children and teenagers from around the world watching.
Los Angeles, CA (PRWEB) July 02, 2014
Los Angeles based Freedom Laser Therapy finds it intriguing how easily governmental restrictions to protect the public can be overturned, if enough pressure is applied by powerful corporations whom are backed by strong corporate sponsors.
Craig Nabat, President of Freedom Laser Therapy says, "Brazilians are well-known for their passion for soccer, though the enthusiasm in the past has gotten quite obsessive. In fact, it’s become so obsessive that it has translated into deaths during games." According to a report by IBN Live, Brazil has had 42 fan deaths during football matches occurring from 1999-2008.
The country’s lawmakers wisely banned alcohol at stadiums 11 years ago in effort to curb game-related violence. According to a Miami Herald article on June 21, 2014, when Brazil initially bid to host the World Cup, they knew about FIFA’s requirements to sell beer. The country’s ban on alcohol was overturned because sponsorship dollars for the World Cup would soon be funneled in by Budweiser. FIFA, an international sports organization, has managed to force a country’s lawmakers to change its law for its own profits. Thanks to the change, Budweiser and Brahma beer are being sold on tap at the games. Nabat declares, "Oh and by the way, proceeds from the games go to FIFA, not the host country Brazil. FIFA is also exempt from taxes in any and all countries."
In addition to unbanning alcohol, USA Today reported on June 18, 2014, FIFA tried to ban Beats headphones from the World Cup, which were invented by American rapper and music producer Dr. Dre due to a licensing agreement with rival producer - Sony. Sony has insisted that players remove their Beats headphones when inside World Cup stadiums for matches or official events.
Huffington Post wrote on June 18th, 2014, Sony even tried to sweeten the ban by sending every player in the World Cup a free set of its own headphones, just like what Beats had done a year earlier. Though the tactic backfired as the players seemed to want to continue wearing their Beats headphones. Marketing experts are now declaring that the star players’ insistence on wearing their Beats headphones, despite the resistance from FIFA and Sony, will only increase the brand’s appeal to the wider public. Without contributing dollars toward sponsorship of the World Cup, Beats managed to receive global press coverage. Not bad for Beats, or should we say Apple?
CNET reported on May 28th, 2014 that Beats was being acquired by Apple for $3.2 billion. During the acquisition Apple said that Beats has "become the brand of choice in the music and sports worlds" and "has quickly become part of pop culture."
The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), founded in 1902, is the oldest international public health organization in the world. Regional Office for the Americas of the World Health Organization (WHO), announced that the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil will be tobacco free.
Fans and players at the 2014 games will get to enjoy a 100% smoke-and tobacco-free environments due to WHO’s recommendations. This announcement was made by FIFA and the Local Organizing Committee (LOC) in Brazil on March 7, 2014. “This decision will mean a healthier environment for athletes, staff, and soccer fans from Brazil and around the world,” said PAHO Director Dr. Carissa F. Etienne. “It also means that one of the world’s most important sporting events will not be a venue for promoting tobacco use. We commend FIFA for its concern about the health of soccer fans everywhere.”
The tobacco ban applies to games in the 12 Brazilian cities that are hosting the 2014 World Cup. The tobacco ban applies to both indoor and outdoor spaces within the perimeters of each participating stadium. The ban means no smoking, no tobacco advertising, no sponsorship and no sale of cigarettes or other tobacco products will be permitted at the World Cup stadiums. Globally, tobacco kills an estimated 6 million people each year. In the last century, some 100 million people have died from tobacco-related causes.
FIFA recognizes that tobacco use and exposure to second-hand smoke are harmful and supports WHO’s global efforts with a genuine interest in promoting health and security. Yet it fails to ban alcohol to minimize risks for fans from all over the world, because the sponsorship from Budweiser translates into significant profits for the organization.
Craig Nabat, President of Freedom Laser Therapy and the inventor of the new Freedom Quit Smoking System, says, “This is major progress for societal change to have these international sports venues ban smoking and tobacco use in and around their stadiums, especially due to millions of children and teenagers from around the world watching. This is visible evidence that there is now a global push aimed at making cigarette smoking history.
About Freedom Laser Therapy
Freedom Laser Therapy, established in 2003, a Los Angeles-based nicotine addiction clinic has helped change the lives of thousands of smokers. After years of research and development, the company has launched the innovative "Freedom Quit Smoking System", its convenient 10-day, home use, all natural and nicotine free way to quit smoking was invented to help Americans across the country and the globe to break free from this deadly addiction and promote healthier lifestyles.