The tobacco industry will go to great lengths to avoid, delay or undermine progress. The right to health is a fundamental responsibility of the state. However, big tobacco companies seek to maintain lax policy environments, and often employ interference tactics, for example, creating industry-backed ‘front groups’ of consumers or farmers to obstruct progressive tobacco control legislation. Experiences in many countries prove that contrary to industrybiased forecasts, tobacco control action can raise government revenue, help businesses, improve livelihoods and increase employment overall.