‘Utter hypocrisy’: tobacco firm lobbied against rules in Africa that are law in UK

British American Tobacco pushed Zambian ministers to drop or delay ad bans, health warnings and restrictions on flavoured products, letter shows

British American Tobacco has been accused of utter hypocrisy" for lobbying against tobacco control measures in Africa that are already in place in the UK.

A letter seen by the Guardian, sent from the company's subsidiary in Zambia to the country's government ministers, asks for plans to ban tobacco advertising and sponsorship to be abandoned or delayed.