Q:
A:
Number of young smokers in Serbia stagnating
Belgrade,
30 May 2008
Serbian Minister of Health Tomica Milosavljevic said today that the number of young smokers in Serbia is stagnating, but it is necessary to intensify the anti-smoking campaign in order to reduce the number of smokers.
Author:
Fonet
Speaking at a press conference held regarding World No Tobacco Day, Milosavljevic warned that tobacco is the only legally available product which kills 30% to 50% of consumers, and smokers’ life expectancy is on average 15 years shorter than non-smokers'.
According to Milosavljevic, the tobacco industry spends millions of dollars every year to advertise its products in countless ways.
In the opinion of the Ministry, one of the most efficient measures a state can implement to protect young people from experimenting which leads to habit is to ban all forms of direct and indirect advertising and promotion of tobacco products and sponsoring of any event or activity organised by the tobacco industry.
Most people start to smoke after the age of 18 whereas one-third of smokers start smoking aged 10 or younger, he said.
Milosavljevic also stressed that many vicious diseases are related to tobacco consumption, including diseases of the heart, blood vessels and malignant tumours.
He said that many moves can be made even outside the legal system such as a ban on smoking in cafés, in public and work places, which would certainly reduce the number of smokers in Serbia.
According to him, one billion packs of cigarettes are sold annually in Serbia. Their prices should be increased and citizens’ awareness should be raised, he said.
He also announced the beginning of a study on smoking with pregnant women in Serbia which will be based on a sample of 2,700 women.
According to Milosavljevic, the tobacco industry spends millions of dollars every year to advertise its products in countless ways.
In the opinion of the Ministry, one of the most efficient measures a state can implement to protect young people from experimenting which leads to habit is to ban all forms of direct and indirect advertising and promotion of tobacco products and sponsoring of any event or activity organised by the tobacco industry.
Most people start to smoke after the age of 18 whereas one-third of smokers start smoking aged 10 or younger, he said.
Milosavljevic also stressed that many vicious diseases are related to tobacco consumption, including diseases of the heart, blood vessels and malignant tumours.
He said that many moves can be made even outside the legal system such as a ban on smoking in cafés, in public and work places, which would certainly reduce the number of smokers in Serbia.
According to him, one billion packs of cigarettes are sold annually in Serbia. Their prices should be increased and citizens’ awareness should be raised, he said.
He also announced the beginning of a study on smoking with pregnant women in Serbia which will be based on a sample of 2,700 women.
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