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| | In the United Kingdom, tobacco kills someone every five minutes. The country has done little to curtail smoking in public places. Some have said that coming to the U.K. is like entering into some sort of tobacco regulatory time warp -- so many people in the country continue to smoke and next to nothing has been done to control let along stamp out smoking in public places.
Fight against smoking:
State regulations:
On May 21, 2003, World Health Organization adopted a document under the title “WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control”. Since then, the document was signed by 168 countries and already 151 states have ratified it. Convention is not direct action document, but only defines the strategies of states in regulating the tobacco industry.
Since then, in many countries, smoking in public places was prohibited by the law. In November 2004, Bhutan became the first country, in which sale of tobacco and tobacco products was prohibited and import of tobacco products for personal needs were levied 100 % import duty.
In February 2006, British parliamentarians have voted for full prohibition of smoking in pubs and clubs. Law should come into force fully by the middle of 2007. Similar decision on prohibition of smoking in all public places, including offices, pubs, restaurants and clubs, was taken by many European Union countries (including Ireland, Germany and France). Practically, smoking is prohibited on all European airlines during entire flight time.
In 1995, after signing State Law about “Advertisement” in Russia, serious restrictions on advertising of tobacco products were introduced both in mass media and as well as in outdoor advertising. In 2005, State law about “Restricting the tobacco smoking” was passed.
On December 9, 2005, State Duma of Russian Federation has adopted a bill at first reading, contemplates punishment for tobacco smoking outside the places, specially allocated for this purpose.
According to the opinion of Chairman of State Duma Boris Gryzlov, sharp increase in price of tobacco products for end user and restriction of their sale is necessary in Russia: “The cost of cigarettes in Russia is low. Cigarettes are not less accessible to children, than ice-cream, cigarettes are sold in every corner but still it is necessary to look for ice-cream”.
In England, it is suggested to reduce the tax on additional cost on all products, helping in cessation of smoking.
On April 11, 2008, State Duma of Russian Federation has passed a bill “Accession of RF to WHO Framework convention on tobacco control”. According to the new law, Russia will take rigid restrictions on all types of tobacco advertisements till complete prohibition of advertisements. Prohibition on advertisements will be gradually introduced within 5 years. Fight against smoking amongst minors will be strengthened and warning inscription about hazards of smoking on cigarette packs “should occupy minimum 30 percent area of broad side of the pack”.
From May 1, 2008, smoking will be banned in public places in China, where 350 million chain smokers are present. In 1996, use of tobacco products was banned in schools, sports arenas and in cinema halls. Now, according to new rules, all the restaurants, bars, Internet cafes, hotels, public rest places and territory of medical institutions fall under the purview of ban. |
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