BAT move on cigarette stock is gross abuse

I REFER to Robbed Smoker’s (The National Jan 9) letter on “Withholding tobacco stock unethical move” as unbelievably bewildering and gross abuse of the trust consumers have in companies selling consumable goods, especially tobacco.
Withholding consumable goods to satisfy management targets is unheard of and unethical business practice.
If it is true, we are thankful, it was tobacco products that were withheld for corporate greed.
Imagine if Trukai Rice withheld its stock deliberately, just because they had achieved their sales targets.
The Trukai Rice warehouse would have been burnt down and a major demonstraton would have occurred in Port Moresby or Lae.
It is a very serious case to deliberately withhold stock at the expense of consumers.
Government authorities (ICCC) should look into this unethical business practice. Consumers were robbed millions of kina just because there was a shortage of supply and the street sellers naturally decided to up their cigarette prices in order to “cash in” on the opportunity.
British American Tobacco is a global leader in the tobacco industry and the authorities in London should investigate this matter and sack the managers responsible for this unethical business practice.
Additionally, the business community should look into this irregularity and seek compensatory measures from BAT for the loss of business income they would have generated during the high purchasing festive period.
I wonder how many people have become addicted to smoking marijuana as a result of these actions by the BAT management.
The managers should be sent to jail for indirectly encouraging the use of illicit drugs by withholding tobacco stock.
Shame on you!.

Non-Smoker
Observer