British Museum Ditches Sponsorship Deal with Japanese Tobacco Firm Amid Government Scrutiny
The British Museum has ended its 15-year partnership with Japan Tobacco International (JTI), a move that comes after the government raised questions about the deal. The decision, made by the museum's board of trustees, follows criticism from human rights and health groups who argued that JTI's sponsorship was "deeply troubling" given its role in promoting smoking products.
The controversy surrounding the deal dates back to 2016 when over 1,000 experts signed an open letter to the British Museum and the Royal Academy, calling for an end to the partnership due to JTI's morally unacceptable sponsorship. The move has been welcomed by critics who had long advocated for the museum to cut ties with the tobacco firm.
The Department of Health and Social Care had raised concerns about the deal under the World Health Organization's framework convention on tobacco control (FCTC), which bars states from advertising and promoting smoking products. JTI still sponsors other prominent cultural institutions, including the Royal Academy of Arts and the London Philharmonic Orchestra.
Dr Allen Gallagher, co-director of the Tobacco Control Research Group at the University of Bath, stated that such agreements "enable a deadly industry to use UK cultural institutions as a way to try and improve its public image." Labour MP Dr Simon Opher echoed this sentiment, saying there were no circumstances in which public bodies should be "legitimising an industry that profits from harm."
The British Museum had defended the deal, citing its financial reliance on private funding. However, the institution's leadership has faced criticism for its handling of other sponsorships, including a £50m deal with BP in 2023 that was widely condemned as "astonishingly out of touch."
The British Museum has ended its 15-year partnership with Japan Tobacco International (JTI), a move that comes after the government raised questions about the deal. The decision, made by the museum's board of trustees, follows criticism from human rights and health groups who argued that JTI's sponsorship was "deeply troubling" given its role in promoting smoking products.
The controversy surrounding the deal dates back to 2016 when over 1,000 experts signed an open letter to the British Museum and the Royal Academy, calling for an end to the partnership due to JTI's morally unacceptable sponsorship. The move has been welcomed by critics who had long advocated for the museum to cut ties with the tobacco firm.
The Department of Health and Social Care had raised concerns about the deal under the World Health Organization's framework convention on tobacco control (FCTC), which bars states from advertising and promoting smoking products. JTI still sponsors other prominent cultural institutions, including the Royal Academy of Arts and the London Philharmonic Orchestra.
Dr Allen Gallagher, co-director of the Tobacco Control Research Group at the University of Bath, stated that such agreements "enable a deadly industry to use UK cultural institutions as a way to try and improve its public image." Labour MP Dr Simon Opher echoed this sentiment, saying there were no circumstances in which public bodies should be "legitimising an industry that profits from harm."
The British Museum had defended the deal, citing its financial reliance on private funding. However, the institution's leadership has faced criticism for its handling of other sponsorships, including a £50m deal with BP in 2023 that was widely condemned as "astonishingly out of touch."
It's not like it's a subtle sponsorship deal or anything. The whole world knows what JTI does for a living. And now the museum's board of trustees has decided to cut ties with them? About bloody time! 
I remember when this all started back in 2016, and everyone was like "what are you guys thinking?" 
But honestly, it just made sense then too. The health groups and Labour MPs were right on the money. And I gotta say, if they can't handle a bit of criticism from experts and politicians, maybe they shouldn't be sponsoring cultural institutions in the first place. 
I don't know... I mean, I think it's kinda weird that they're ending the sponsorship deal now, but then again, maybe it's a good thing? 
But at the same time, isn't it kinda sketchy to have tobacco companies profiting off our culture and stuff? 
Wait, no... maybe that's not the point. 
I mean, if they didn't have the deal, would they still get all that money from BP or something? 
. I mean, who wants to legitimize an industry that's responsible for millions of premature deaths worldwide? It's not just about the tobacco products, it's about the impact on our health and the environment too 
. The fact that they only made this move after government scrutiny is a bit late in the game, imo 
. And what's with the £50m deal with BP? Are they for real?! 
Not worth compromising one's principles for. 
. So, kudos to the museum for taking this step! 