All articles tagged with #tobacco control
Originally Published 2 months ago — by BBC
The Maldives has implemented a unique nationwide ban on smoking for all individuals born on or after January 1, 2007, aiming to protect youth from tobacco harms and align with WHO guidelines, without negatively impacting tourism.
Originally Published 3 months ago — by npr.org
A report by the Trump administration on children's health omits mention of nicotine and tobacco, despite concerns about vaping-related lung injuries and the importance of tobacco control efforts, which have historically reduced youth smoking and vaping. Critics argue that the omission undermines comprehensive public health strategies, especially given the addictive and harmful nature of nicotine.
Originally Published 6 months ago — by CNN
France has implemented a nationwide ban on smoking in outdoor areas frequented by children, such as parks and beaches, as part of its effort to create a tobacco-free generation by 2032. The measure includes fines for violations and marks a significant shift in a country historically associated with cigarette culture, despite some public resistance and ongoing challenges from the tobacco industry.
Originally Published 7 months ago — by NPR
France is extending its smoking ban to beaches, public gardens, and areas near schools starting July 1st to protect children and reduce tobacco use, which is already at its lowest since the 1990s. The measure aims to denormalize tobacco use, especially among youth, and is supported by the public, with fines for non-compliance. The ban excludes e-cigarettes and is part of a broader plan to achieve a tobacco-free generation by 2032.
Originally Published 1 year ago — by Al Jazeera English
The UK Parliament has approved plans to create a "smoke-free" generation by gradually raising the legal age for purchasing tobacco, with the aim of eradicating smoking among young people by 2040. The legislation also aims to restrict young people's access to vaping. While the ban has received support from health experts and the public, some MPs have criticized it as an attack on personal freedoms. Similar anti-smoking measures have been implemented in countries like New Zealand, Portugal, Mexico, Canada, and India.
Originally Published 1 year ago — by The Associated Press
UK lawmakers have backed a landmark bill aimed at gradually phasing out smoking, making it illegal to sell tobacco products to anyone born after January 1, 2009. The bill also includes measures to crack down on youth vaping and aims to create the first smoke-free generation in modern Britain. Despite opposition from some members of the Conservative Party, the bill passed its first hurdle in Parliament and is set to implement the phased changes, raising the legal age of sale for cigarettes each year until it becomes illegal for the entire population.
Originally Published 1 year ago — by Medical Xpress
A study by University of Toronto researchers at Unity Health Toronto shows that quitting smoking at any age brings significant health benefits, with smokers who quit before age 40 expected to live almost as long as those who never smoked. The study, which followed 1.5 million adults in four countries over 15 years, found that quitting smoking reduces the risk of dying from vascular disease and cancer, with former smokers also experiencing longer survival and reduced risk of death from respiratory disease. The findings emphasize the urgent need for government support in tobacco control efforts, including raising taxes on cigarettes and improving cessation supports to help reduce smoking rates and improve public health.
Originally Published 2 years ago — by Reuters
The World Health Organization (WHO) has called for governments to treat e-cigarettes similarly to tobacco and ban all flavors, threatening cigarette companies' investments in smoking alternatives. The WHO cited insufficient evidence that vapes help smokers quit, highlighted their potential harm to health and the risk of nicotine addiction among non-smokers, particularly children and young people. The organization urged countries to implement strict measures, including bans on flavoring agents and the application of tobacco control measures to vapes. While the WHO's recommendations are voluntary, they often influence national regulations. Some tobacco companies and vape firms argue that vapes pose lower health risks than tobacco and flavors are crucial in encouraging smokers to switch.
Originally Published 2 years ago — by World Health Organization
Urgent action is needed to protect children and prevent the uptake of e-cigarettes, as they are not effective for quitting tobacco use and have adverse health effects. Many countries lack regulations on e-cigarettes, allowing aggressive marketing to young people. E-cigarettes with nicotine are highly addictive and harmful to health, with potential risks to brain development and fetal development. Rates of e-cigarette use among children and young people are increasing globally. Measures such as banning flavors, limiting nicotine concentration, and taxing e-cigarettes are necessary. Governments should base cessation strategies on evidence and consider regulating e-cigarettes as medicines. The tobacco industry profits from promoting false evidence while targeting children and non-smokers. Strong action is needed to prevent e-cigarette uptake and protect public health.
Originally Published 2 years ago — by Medical Xpress
The decline in smoking prevalence in England has significantly slowed since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a study led by UCL researchers. Before the pandemic, smoking rates were decreasing by 5.2% annually, but during the pandemic, the decline slowed to 0.3%. The study found a 40% increase in quit attempts during the pandemic, but this was offset by a rise in the number of people taking up smoking. The stall in the decline of smoking was particularly pronounced among advantaged social groups. The researchers emphasized the need for bold policy action to reignite progress in reducing smoking rates and meet the government's target for England to be smoke-free by 2030.
Originally Published 2 years ago — by World Health Organization
A new report from the World Health Organization (WHO) reveals that 71% of the global population, or 5.6 billion people, are now protected by at least one tobacco control measure, a significant increase from 2007. The report highlights the success of WHO's MPOWER tobacco control measures in reducing smoking rates worldwide. Additionally, it emphasizes the importance of smoke-free indoor public places and applauds Mauritius and the Netherlands for achieving best-practice level in all MPOWER measures. However, there is still work to be done, as 44 countries remain unprotected by any MPOWER measures, and 53 countries lack complete smoking bans in healthcare facilities. The report urges all countries to implement comprehensive tobacco control policies to combat the tobacco epidemic, which claims 8.7 million lives annually.
Originally Published 2 years ago — by CBS News
Sweden, which has the lowest rate of smoking in the European Union, is close to declaring itself "smoke free" — defined as having fewer than 5% daily smokers in the population. Many experts give credit to decades of anti-smoking campaigns and legislation, while others point to the prevalence of "snus," a smokeless tobacco product that is banned elsewhere in the EU but is marketed in Sweden as an alternative to cigarettes. The 5% milestone is now within reach, with only 6.4% of Swedes over 15 being daily smokers in 2019, according to the Eurostat statistics agency.
Originally Published 2 years ago — by The Associated Press
Sweden, which has the lowest rate of smoking in the European Union, is close to declaring itself "smoke-free" with fewer than 5% daily smokers in the population. The country has gone further than most to stamp out cigarettes, and says it's resulted in a range of health benefits, including a relatively low rate of lung cancer. Many experts give credit to decades of anti-smoking campaigns and legislation, while others point to the prevalence of "snus," a smokeless tobacco product that is banned elsewhere in the EU but is marketed in Sweden as an alternative to cigarettes.