One in every ten deaths in the world are smoking related according to the published study, Smoking prevalence and attributable disease burden in 195 countries and territories, 1990–2015: a systematic analysis from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2015. Also, President Putin of Russia declared war against tobacco on January 13th, 2017, and intends to carry out a plan which will prohibit tobacco sales by 2033.
WNTD - What does WNTD stand for? It is the acronym for World No Tobacco Day which falls on May 31st. The member states of the World Health Organization (WHO) created World No Tobacco Day in 1987 to draw global attention of the tobacco epidemic, preventable deaths, and diseases related to tobacco. The theme for World No Tobacco Day 2017 is "Tobacco – A Threat to Development." Here are the goals of the World No Tobacco Day 2017 campaign.
1. Highlight the links between the use of tobacco products, tobacco control and sustainable development. 2. Encourage countries to include tobacco control in their national responses to 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda. 3. Support member states and civil society to combat the interference by the tobacco industry in political processes, and promote stronger national tobacco control action. 4. Encourage broader public and partner participation in national, regional and global efforts to develop and implement strategies and plans to achieve goals that prioritize action on tobacco control. 5. Demonstrate how individuals can contribute to making a sustainable, tobacco-free world, either by committing to never taking up tobacco products, or by quitting the habit.
Non-smoking policy of other countries
Thailand
Thailand has one of the best antismoking policies in the world. In 2005, they made health warnings on cigarette packs compulsory. The government has expanded the size of warning pictures on cigarette packs from 50% in 2005 to 85% in 2010. Also, the antismoking policy is famous for its campaign video. In the video, young kids go to an adult who smokes on the street and say, "Can I get a light?" Every adult reminds the children that smoking is bad and nobody gives them a light. Then the kids give the adults a memo that has the following message on it: "You worry about me. But why do not about yourself? Reminding yourself is the most effective warning to help you quit. Call 1600 hotline to quit smoking."
In ten days, more than 5,000,000 people watched this advertisement. The number of received telephone calls increased by 40, percent at the smoking hotline.
Peru
See you soon after death are the name of an antismoking commercial in Peru. When a man is about to find a lighter to smoke, an angel of death comes up to him, lights his cigarette, and says "See you soon". It is widely known that 25 people die every day from smoking-related illnesses in Peru, so CEDRO (The Information and Education Center for the Prevention of Drug Abuse) started an antismoking campaign in 2012. Written on the lighter given by the angel of death was “Give it back to me later.” The other side of the lighter said, "Cigarettes shall kill you. We help you quit", and CEDRO’s website address. While conducting the campaign for four weeks, the visitation rate of CEDRO website increased by 40 percent. Also, one in three smokers changed his or her mind to not smoke.
In 2007, Peru made a law which requires warning pictures on cigarette packs. Later, in 2009, an agreement was made among the representatives of casinos in Peru which made smoking prohibited in these establishments. States also made it law to prohibit smoking in other places such as restaurants, cafes, bars, hotels and recreational centers. After that, an administrative order was signed by the Peruvian president to ban smoking in all public buildings and workplaces. If people break the rules, that business will have its license revoked or it will be closed down. These places include cafeterias, corridors, halls and moving vehicles.
Korea
Then what about Korea? Since 1986, Korea has issued warnings on cigarette boxes and banned advertisement of cigarettes entirely. In 2002, the government opened to the public that cigarettes contain tar and nicotine. In 2010, certain public places in the city were designated as non-smoking areas like bus stops. If people break this law, they will be fined. After that, in 2015, the price of tobacco went up from 2500 won a pack to 4500 won a pack. It was the most controversial policy. And in December of 2016, warning of the dangers of smoking was printed on every pack of cigarettes. The government implemented this antismoking policy, but there is still controversy if it is really for the people.
Other countries have also raised the price of cigarettes but they also raise the age limit of when a person can buy tobacco products and they reveal all harmful substances in cigarettes.
The WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) is the first international treaty negotiated under the auspices of WHO. It was adopted by the World Health Assembly on May 21, 2003, and entered into force on February 21, 2005.
This is article 10 "Each Party shall, in accordance with its national law, adopt and implement effective legislative, executive, administrative or other measures requiring manufacturers and importers of tobacco products to disclose to governmental authorities information about the contents and emissions of tobacco products. Each Party shall further adopt and implement effective measures for public disclosure of information about the toxic constituents of the tobacco products and the emissions that they may produce."
In June of 2009, the United States made a law called The Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act. This act requires tobacco companies to disclose to the FDA the ingredients in each existing tobacco product by brand, and by quantity in each brand, including all smoke constituents.
But the Korean government has not disclosed these details. In 2015, the Korean Food and Drugs Administration (KFDA) checked pernicious ingredients of cigarette smoke through experiments. However, they didn't disclose the results for over a year after the experiments were conducted. It is necessary to disclose pernicious ingredients of cigarettes quickly. The public has a right to know.
