Russia Combats Smoking Culture

Main Category: Smoking / Quit Smoking
Article Date: 14 Jan 2008 - 4:00 PDT

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The Russian government is taking steps to address smoking by banning all tobacco advertising.
Hundreds of thousands of people in Russia die each year from smoking-related illnesses; 60 percent of men and 30 percent of women smoke.
Experts say the ban is just the first step in changing the habits of millions.

Cigarettes in Russia are cheap and most restaurants are smoker-friendly and public places usually have a place to smoke.

According to the country's Ministry of Health, it is estimated around half a million people die of smoking-related diseases annually. The Russian government is beginning to take action and has decided to completely ban all tobacco advertising. The government has approved a draft law on joining the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control where the ban must be implemented within five years.

Sergey Polyatykin from the 'No to Alcoholism and Drug Addiction' Fund says "Ads in a way are information in the form of pressure, as they make it easier for a person to start smoking. Banning tobacco ads is just the first step."

It is expected Russia will eventually ban smoking in all public places - a move which companies like Philip Morris have already had to adapt to in Europe and the U.S. Artyom Tchermis, Philip Morris's representative says they continue to operate "very successfully" in the countries where the tobacco advertising ban has already been ratified.

http://www.ash.org.uk

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