The future without smoke – moving forward or backwards?

The World Health Organization this week released the tenth exhibition for the world tobacco epidemicA state of update in the anti -smoking campaigns. The conclusion that more than 6 billion people or about 75% of the world population are now covered by some kind of tobacco control measure, including graphic warnings in cigarette packs, tax increases, bans and advertising programs that help people.

According to the organization, less by 20% of the world population today It smokes from more than 32% in 2000. 80% of these people are in medium or low -income countries and are more likely to be males, as smoking is still the largest cause of preventive death worldwide. As the use of tobacco falls and cOntrol measures have reached a critical mass of peopleA total phase of commercial tobacco use has been found on the table in some countries, while others are closer, trying to reduce the number of smokers to 5% or less than the population. However, some of the highest profile measures of this kind have already failed, asking whether a future without smoke is in production, farther away that seems or even impossible.

Bhutan, the Himalayan nation, was the first official country without smoke in the world when it banned the import and sale of tobacco in 2004. Calculation of gross national happiness or command that 60% of the country Stay wooded. But even the remote nation that mentioned Buddhist teachings as a reason for the ban on tobacco was not immune to external influence and liked the majority of its prohibition in 2020 in the midst of Koronai’s cloths to stop the smuggling. Since then, the country’s government has decided not to restore And instead it focuses on training and bomb programs, as the ban did not really reduce smoking rates and instead created an environment without warnings about smoke that was still illegally available.

More recently, New Zealand has tried to create a generation without smoke from 2027 onwards, it does not allow anyone born in 2009 or later to buy legal cigarettes as soon as they turn 18, along with many other measures against tobacco. The country’s approach was that of the most gradual training rather than a sudden ban, but its advantages will not be tested as a change in the government that caused the law to break up in 2022, despite the fact that it had widespread widespread public support. A new Conservative Coalition Government decided to change the lesson after the arrival of power in 2023, Reportedly, at the request of Populist New Zealand First Party. Tobacco proceeds were successfully linked to new tax cuts. This highlights another area of ​​concern for tobacco prohibitions and phases: the cost of prevention and tax revenue damage in the short term, although they are expected to be offset by the lowest cost of public health care. However, the United Kingdom currently has a similar prohibition that has not yet been established but enjoys government and Public support from now.

Creating spaces without tobacco?

The New Zealand government in the meantime said it remained committed to creating a nation without smoke. Several countries, including Portugal, Canada and Australia, have set similar goals, which usually aim to reduce the number of smokers to 5% or less in the next five to 15 years. The EU, for example, has set this date in 2040. A popular rule to go closer to this goal was to further limit smoking to public outdoor areas, such as restaurants and patios, beaches, parks, natural areas or even internal streets of the city. The aforementioned countries, sometimes at the state level, have introduced bans such as these, as well as many other nations around the world.

Cities have also followed his example and a well -reported ban has come into force Milan At the beginning of the year, banning smoking anywhere near other people, similar to the law in Costa Rica. France It is also tightened by these rules since July 1, but relieves outdoor hosting areas, another important push area to the ongoing trailer between public health supporters led by good concerns, supporters of free lifestyles and short -term lifestyles.

Recorded by Statistical