Archaeological digs from as far back as 3500 BC show the presence of tobacco seeds in the daily lives of Peruvian inhabitants.[1] Peru was one of the earliest cultivation sites of the plant, with historians suggesting locals used tobacco for ritual ceremonies and its medical properties. Other experts say that tobacco also played a role in alleviating hunger, thirst, and fatigue during arduous journeys in the region.
Of course, while cultivation began more than 5000 years ago, the presence of tobacco in Peru goes back much further. In 2015, Paleontologists in Peru discovered fossilised tobacco from the Pleistocene Era, dating the plant’s presence to around 2.5 million years ago.[2] In other words, tobacco has been part of Peruvian civilisation.
The present-day picture of tobacco smoking in Peru
By the time of the arrival of Francisco Pizarro in 1531, tobacco was widely used across the Inca Empire. Soon after, the Spanish adopted tobacco for recreational use, and thus, one of the strands of Europe’s complicated love affair with tobacco and nicotine began.
Fast forward to today, and tobacco use in both Europe and Peru is in sharp decline. However, in the Peruvian Amazon, the plant is still used by healers and shamans for a variety of purposes, one of which is as a treatment for mental health problems, depression, stress, and other emotional issues.
Recreational tobacco smoking in Peru really took off in the 20th century as the global tobacco industry expanded. While reliable research is limited, some figures suggest smoking prevalence was as high as 38%. However, since the mid-90s, smoking in Peru has reduced dramatically. These days, only 8% of citizens smoke, with some sources suggesting the daily use figure is even lower.
When it comes to vaping, data is once again hard to find. However, the practice is increasing in popularity among Peruvians, with disposable vapes particularly popular. In light of this, last month, the government announced new measures to tackle both cigarettes and vapes.
Law 3437/2022
Known as Law 3437/2022 or Law 32159, the regulations are basically an implementation of the WHO FCTC recommendations, with the usual advertising and packaging restrictions front and centre. The limitations for vapes and nicotine pouches are as harsh as you’d expect, which is another reminder of the WHO’s presence and influence in developing countries.
Some of the relevant restrictions include:
- Advertising bans on television, radio, and media outlets.
- Nicotine products cannot use names that refer to candies, sweets, or desserts.
- Health warnings must make up 30% of packaging.
- Vaping —alongside smoking— is prohibited in educational institutions, health centres, public buildings, workplaces, enclosed public spaces, and all modes of public transport.
- A ban on vapes and other nicotine products for under 18s.
The justification for the restriction of choice, as ever, is the usual clapped-out garbage about addicting a whole new generation. What it really shows are the dangers of the WHOs influence on policy in developing countries.
Peru has its fair share of problems. Smoking isn’t one of them. The practice declined in recent decades due to more accurate health information, and the rise of vaping has ensured that many youths who would have smoked instead chose a safer alternative. If the Peruvian government did nothing, smoking rates would continue to decline — as long as citizens had access to products like vapes and nicotine.
Dark influence
Instead, the Peruvian government is being used as a pawn in the WHOs misguided and never-ending crusade against tobacco companies and anyone who wants to give up smoking in their own way. If it were about health, then they would be supporting harm reduction products and not treating smoking and vaping as the same danger or the same industry.
Researchers in Peru are fairly reliant on funding from international organisations. They’re also dependent upon the health recommendations from the likes of the WHO. This situation makes them vulnerable to all the biases, agendas, and ideologies that are baked into the WHO FCTC.
This problem is not specific to Peru. It’s happening across a wide range of lower-middle-income countries. These governments trust the WHO because they have to.
The strangest thing is that Ancient Caral-Supe priests and medicine men understood the benefits of nicotine. They might not have known its name or its chemical makeup, and they certainly didn’t have qualifications in public health, but they knew nicotine had powerful properties.
Many modern-day Peruvians who use cigarettes or vapes also know this. Whether it’s about focus, mood, or some form of self-medication, they use nicotine because it provides benefits.
The Bloomberg Bucks-guzzling public health experts are the only people in this equation who don’t seem to get why people use nicotine. Sadly, these organisations can wield their influence on politicians, bamboozle them with discredited conspiracy theories, and put barriers in the way of converting the remaining 8% of Peruvian smokers to a far safer alternative.
In 3500 BC, Egyptian healers used willow bark to reduce pain and inflammation because it contained salicin. Many thousands of years later, salicin was extracted from the plant and in the 19th century, a synthetic version of salicin, called aspirin, was created. It’s a clear example of how things that have value can be adapted and adopted for the modern era. The same dynamic has already happened with vapes and nicotine pouches, at least for anyone who is paying attention.
History likes to tell us that ancient people were foolish and superstitious. But in some ways, they were more knowledgeable, practical, and tolerant than our modern public health grifters.
