| 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 alone stamp out smoking in public places.
The fight against smoking:
State regulations:
On May 21, 2003, the 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. The convention is not a 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 the sale of tobacco and tobacco products was prohibited and the import of tobacco products for personal needs was levied at 100 % import duty.
In February 2006, British parliamentarians have voted for a full prohibition of smoking in pubs and clubs. Law should come into force fully by the middle of 2007. A similar decision on the 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 the entire flight time.
In 1995, after signing the State Law about “Advertisements” in Russia, serious restrictions on the advertising of tobacco products were introduced both in the mass media and as well as in outdoor advertising. In 2005, the State law about “Restricting tobacco smoking” was passed.
On December 9, 2005, the State Duma in the Russian Federation adopted a bill at the first reading that contemplates punishment for tobacco smoking outside the places, specially allocated for this purpose.
According to the opinion of the Chairman of the State Duma, Boris Gryzlov, the sharp increase in the price of tobacco products for the end user and the restriction of their sale is necessary in Russia: “The cost of cigarettes in Russia is low. Cigarettes are no 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 the additional cost on all products, helping in the cessation of smoking.
On April 11, 2008, the State Duma in the Russian Federation passed the bill the “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 the complete prohibition of advertisements. Prohibition on advertisements will be gradually introduced within 5 years. The fight against smoking amongst minors will be strengthened and a warning inscription about the hazards of smoking on cigarette packs “should occupy a minimum of 30 percent of the area of the 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, the 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 medical institutions fall under the ban.
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