Ban of single stick cigarettes
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Thirasara Foundation, Sri Lanka
Publication date: 2018-03-01
Tob. Induc. Dis. 2018;16(Suppl 1):A123
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ABSTRACT
Background and challenges to implementation:
Sri Lanka implemented FCTC´s Article 11 at 80% from June 2015. Thirasara Foundation in collaboration with Jeewaka
Foundation initiated a study in 2016 to
monitor the compliance with the PHW
printed on tobacco packets in 18 out of the 26 health districts of the country.
The study established
that the conformity with the law is 100 percent, but informal evidence suggests
that few purchase cigarettes as packets.
Self-evidently PHWs cannot be significantly impact in reduction of smoking. Why? Because the
majority purchase cigarettes in singles.
Therefore banning single cigarette sale should be a moderating
part of the country´s tobacco control policy.
Single stick sales
facilitate smoking among non-affluent youth and beginning smoking. Retailers
are more likely to sell single cigarettes to minors than to adults, thus probably initiation of smoking.
Intervention or response:
The first step was to
gather information related to sale of single stick cigarettes locally by observation and internationally by a
literature survey.
Based on the
information leaflets were prepared for propaganda purposes.
The importance of banning single stick cigarette sales was
communicated to policy makers including the President of the Republic of Sri
Lanka and the Health Minister. (with a legal background)
The documents for
formally demanding the ban of single
cigarettes and other tobacco demand reducing proposals were prepared and
submitted to the influential GMOA for necessary action.
The GMOA had a formal
meeting with HE, the President and the Health Minister for implementation of
the proposals.
Wide publicity was
secured by the media, print, electronic and social.
Results and lessons learnt:
The government, not
only accepted the desirability of banning
sale of single stick cigarettes, in order to promote reduction of
tobacco use, but took practicable steps to implement the proposal.
Conclusions and key recommendations:
Demand reduction
policies for tobacco if clearly conceptualized and enthusiastically publicized
can be made a reality.
CITATIONS (1):
1.
Compliance With Tobacco Control Policy and Visibility of Cigarette Retailers Around Educational Facilities in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Hala AlJishi, Dian Kusuma, Alaa AlQurashi, Ali AlFaiz, Abdulaziz AlSaad, Maha Aljishi
Frontiers in Public Health