Although Abbott could probably afford the loss of the Brazilian revenues (0.5% of its total sales) if a compulsory licence were issued, industry representatives and patent-rights advocates fear the precedent-setting effect of such a move.

ECONOMIST: Drugs and intellectual property

There was a sort of murmur of both recognition and despair as the fags man projected forward to a future at the check-out where customers have a quota of alcohol purchases, flashing up when compulsory electronic payment is made, beyond which the off-sales shop has to turn them away.

BBC: Shelves in a shop

Anti-tobacco legislation like those imposing smoking bans in public areas, compulsory health warnings on the packaging and restrictions on advertising and marketing add to further decline in tobacco sales.

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