Tobacco.org

• Cheap tobacco driving youth to become smokers 

Lebanese health experts calling for a comprehensive smoking ban have been given additional impetus to their cause after a major international public affairs magazine published a major study warning youth smoking rates were increasing dangerously. In a report published earlier this month by the Economist Intelligence Unit with sponsorship from international pharmaceutical company Pfizer, researchers warned that cheap and easily accessible tobacco was driving Lebanon's youth to take up smoking, a habit many will continue into adulthood.

The 28-page report, entitled "Tomorrow's regular customers? Stamping out tobacco use in the Middle East and Africa," also noted that while many countries were now introducing smoking bans in public places, the developing world was seeing a steady increase in smokers, accounting for some 70 percent of the world's total smokers in 2005, compared to about 40 percent in 1970.

The developing world will thus pay the highest price for tobacco use: the World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that by 2030, 80 percent of tobacco-related deaths will occur in low- to middle-income countries, the report said.

In Lebanon, over 3,500 people die each year because of tobacco exposure at a cost of around $900 million, according to the Health Ministry.

Jump to full article »

• GCC will not increase tariffs on cigarettes 

At a time when anti-smoking campaigners are calling for an increase in cigarette duty to discourage smokers, a source at the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) said there would be no increase in cigarette tariffs.

The source, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said the GCC is committed to the World Trade Organization (WTO) and that this commitment does not allow GCC countries to increase cigarette duty by over 100 percent, which is already implemented. “In order to increase it, we have to be involved in negotiation with more than 120 member countries of the WTO,” he said.

He added that a meeting of GCC ministries of finance, custom and health is to be held next month to discuss the issue.

Newspapers in the Kingdom recently reported a SR1 increase on packets of cigarette, an increase of 20 percent. Asa’ad Jawhar, an analyst, said the slight increase would not stop smokers from buying cigarettes.

“The price is not high enough to discourage smokers from buying cigarettes. If we compare the prices of cigarettes in the Kingdom with European countries and the United States, we will find that our prices are 50 percent cheaper than the price in EU countries and the US. In Italy, for example, the price of a pack of cigarettes is the equivalent of SR23,” he said.

Jump to full article »

• Tomorrow’s regular customers? Stamping out tobacco use in the Middle East and Africa (PDF) 

Tomorrow’s regular customers? Stamping out tobacco use in the Middle East and Africa is a research paper written by the Economist Intelligence Unit and sponsored by Pfizer. . . .

The findings are based on more than 40 interviews with experts from government, academia, NGOs and the tobacco industry in the Middle East, Africa and elsewhere. We would like to thank the Economist Intelligence Unit’s extensive network of country analysts for organising and conducting most of these interviews. . . .

This report focuses on one portion of the developing world—the Middle East and Africa (MEA)— which has become a key battleground in the struggle over government policy and public attitudes.

Although the region can lay claim to adult smoking rates mostly on par or lower than those of many Western and developing nations, expanding populations mean that even if rates were to stay relatively steady, the absolute numbers of smokers would still rise.

The MEA region also poses other deeply entrenched challenges. These include rising youth smoking rates, particularly among girls, a prevailing culture of acceptance around tobacco, especially the water pipe, widespread governmental ambivalence and a strong tobacco industry lobby. But charities and other non-governmental organisations (NGOs) have gained a foothold in recent years. They often work on a shoestring, but are increasingly supported with much-needed financial lifelines from rich Western philanthropists.

“There is a change in mentality in our region. Ministries of health are working with the WHO and other NGOs—bringing together all the people working on tobacco control,” says Dr Jean-Pierre Baptiste, a regional adviser with the WHO’s Tobacco Free Initiative in Algeria. He is one of more than 40 experts from government, academia, NGOs and the tobacco industry interviewed for this report.

But are their efforts enough? In this paper, we investigate the progress that has been made, the challenges that remain, what lessons can be drawn from successful policies elsewhere and how the landscape could look in a decade or two. We examine ten major markets in-depth—four in North Africa: Egypt, Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia; two in Sub-Saharan Africa: Nigeria and South Africa; and four in the Middle East: Lebanon, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The key findings of the report are highlighted below.

Jump to full article »

Editorial: Shisha smoking 

Smoking shisha, like eating and drinking, is of course a purely nighttime affair during Ramadan. But it often is during the rest of the year too, so chances are that during the holy month, with people socializing during the night hours, consumption will rise. It is thought to be rising in any event, popular as it is with younger people.

The results of research by a UK government department will therefore come as something of a shock to its devotees. It is that shisha smoking can be just as dangerous to health as cigarettes, if not more so. . . .

Despite that and even after GCC moves to ban shishas in public places (Dubai municipality did so in March), consumption is rising. In the UAE, doctors recently reported more women smoking shishas; there is no reason to imagine things are very different in the Kingdom although there are no statistics.

That is part of the problem. People in this part of the world will simply ignore studies carried elsewhere. They do not see them as their concern; it is not their patch of the wood. It would be different if there were a report on the dangers of smoking in Saudi Arabia. That leads to another point: Why is it left to countries such as the UK and France to undertake research in shisha smoking? Shisha is part of Arab culture, not British or French culture. The answer, of course, is that there is no great tradition, let alone the facilities, of undertaking research into social, medical or any other issues here. That will change as new universities open. But it is long overdue.

Jump to full article »

Yemen ranks second in the number of smokers in Arab World 

Yemen ranks the second in the Arab World in the number of smokers after Tunisia according to a study conducted by World Health Organization (WHO) issued in May 2009. In Yemen also the number of students has increased and that 1.14 % from students of primary education in Yemen aged 13-15 smokes and 40 % are subject to passive smoking stated a Field survey conducted by Anti-Smoking program.

Yemenis smoke 604 billion cigarettes per year, said a new official research issued last year on the occasion of the World No Tobacco Day. According to the study conducted by the National Program for Combating Smoking, Yemenis smoke 604 billion cigarettes with a total cost of YR 21.5 billion.

Jump to full article »

MIDDLE EAST: Tobacco kills – get the picture? 

Tobacco Health Warnings is the theme for this year’s World No Tobacco Day on 31 May. The World Health Organisation (WHO) is urging governments to increase public awareness of the dangers of smoking by requiring that all tobacco packages include pictorial warnings to show the sickness and suffering caused by tobacco use.

“Health warnings on tobacco packages are a simple, cheap and effective strategy that can vastly reduce tobacco use and save lives," said WHO Assistant Director-General Dr Ala Alwan in a press release. "But they only work if they communicate the risk. Warnings that include images of the harm that tobacco causes are particularly effective at communicating risk and motivating behavioural changes, such as quitting or reducing tobacco consumption.” . . .

The most recent WHO information for tobacco uses in the Middle East is from surveys conducted around 10 years ago in 19 countries of the Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR). They revealed that Yemeni men were the biggest smokers in the region, with 77 percent smoking, and Lebanese women topped the female category with 35 percent smoking.

Overall, the richer Gulf States (Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait and Oman) had the lowest prevalence of smokers, with Oman faring best, and the poorer Levant countries (Lebanon, Syria, Palestine and Jordan) and Yemen had the highest.

Jump to full article »

• Middle East governments losing US$162 million in tobacco excise taxes each year 

Starting today, British American Tobacco Middle East is hosting a two-day conference for key stakeholders across the region to help tackle the issue of illicit tobacco trade. Taking place in Beirut, Lebanon, the conference will shed light on different experiences in combating illicit trade of tobacco products across the region.

The opening ceremony is being attended by key figures including the Lebanese Minister of Finance Dr Mohammed Shateh, as well as customs and other government entities; and their counterparts from Jordan, Syria and Yemen as well as members of the top management team of British American Tobacco Middle East.

Over two days, the conference is looking at key issues including combating illicit trade; the impact of tax on illicit trade; country specific experiences including Lebanon, Yemen, Syria and Jordan. British American Tobacco Middle East is sharing its experience and knowledge of tackling illicit trade in the tobacco sector, as well as facts and figures on the size and scale of the issue, how the company is combating the problem, and its views on the World Health Organization's Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) Protocol on Anti Illicit Trade.

Jump to full article »

Pfizer sponsors 14th World Conference on Tobacco or Health  

In an effort to fight the smoking epidemic, Pfizer Inc, the world's largest research-based pharmaceutical company is sponsoring the 14th World Conference on Tobacco or Health (WCTOH) which is scheduled to take place in Mumbai, India from 8 till 12 March 2009.

The conference has been organized every three years since the mid-1960s, and this time will gather tobacco control researchers, activists, educators, policymakers, leaders and civil society members from around the world. The WCTOH 2009 theme is Global Tobacco Control: Multi Sectoral Approach to Tobacco Control: Policies, Pathways, Partners and People.

Commenting on this initiative, Dr. Ahmed El Hakim, Director of External Affairs at Pfizer Middle East said, 'We strongly believe in the importance of working with all involved parties and equipping all those involved in anti-smoking initiatives with the necessary tools in order to fight this fatal addiction and enhance tobacco control in both developing and developed countries.'

In addition to the sponsorship for the World Conference on Tobacco or Health (WCTOH), Pfizer has introduced the latest anti-smoking breakthrough treatment Champix (Varenicline)

Jump to full article »

Dean Obeidallah: An Open Letter to President Obama on Future Appearances on Arab TV 

2. Smoke during the interview. Mr. President we all know you enjoy smoking but are trying to quit. Here is a chance to justify your smoking as well as creating a bond with the average Arab man. To give you an idea how much Arab men smoke, I went to a gym in the Middle East and there were ashtrays on the treadmills. Arabs view it this way: Anyone can run five miles, lets see you run five miles while smoking a Marlboro.

Jump to full article »

GCC may raise tobacco tax  

GCC health ministers could soon approve increasing tax on cigarettes and other tobacco products by 200 per cent, it was revealed yesterday.

The tax had been proposed by several anti-smoking societies in the region in their bid to discourage smoking, said Health Ministry public health and primary care assistant under-secretary Dr Mariam Al Jalahma.

"The proposal, which is now awaiting approval by the GCC health ministers, once passed will be a significant achievement for us," she told the GDN.

"As things stand now, it could be a matter of weeks before the ministers meet and give their final approval."

Jump to full article »

Comment: Cigarette and waterpipe smoking among adolescents in Estonia: HBSC survey results, 1994-2006 

Parna and colleagues credit Ward et al for stating that “”waterpipes”” “have been used to smoke tobacco and other substances in Africa and Asia for at least four centuries"[1][2].

In fact, this is not the right source and it was one of the errors to be found in the WHO report on ““waterpipe”” smoking that I had clearly highlighted from the onset in the critique of that document [3]. Let it be quoted again:

“Origins. It is said (page 1) that, according to Chattopadhyay, “waterpipes have been used to smoke tobacco and other substances by the indigenous peoples of Africa and Asia for at least four centuries””[4]

Jump to full article »

UAE Urged to Adopt Proactive Approach to Curb Tobacco Use 

The policymakers and health authorities in the UAE should adopt a proactive approach in implementing a comprehensive anti-tobacco policy to curb the use of tobacco products, according to a leading international expert in oral medicine.

Speaking at a symposium on 
‘Tobacco and Oral Cancer’ as part of the one-day International Medical Sciences Academy Conference organised by the RAK College of Dental Sciences in collaboration with International Medical Sciences Academy and the UAE Association for Dental Education and Research on Sunday, Prof. Saman Warnakulasuriya, Head of the Department of Oral Medicine, King’s College, London, said it is unfortunate that the UAE was among the countries with high prevalence of tobacco use.

“The steps taken so far by the country in controlling tobacco use, including banning smoking in public places, are welcome and in the right direction. But the country needs to have a comprehensive anti-tobacco strategy which should include provision to ban advertisements of tobacco products and increase taxation on tobacco products,” he said while presenting a paper on the ‘Global Tobacco Burden’.

Jump to full article »

• Ramadan fast means hard times for smokers 

"I don't want to quit smoking," said Romaneh, 42, who lights one Gauloise Light with another, inhaling deeply in between sips from a glass of thick Arabic coffee. "Smoking is a joy."

Like Romaneh in this West Bank Palestinian city, millions of Muslim smokers get on a nicotine roller coaster during Ramadan, which ends this year in late September. But health campaigners are increasingly trying to get them to quit altogether, using Ramadan as a springboard for anti-smoking drives.

A London mosque runs a "Stop smoking for Ramadan, stop smoking for life" appeal on its Web site, and a Saudi volunteer network is trying to bring that message to 10 million Arab Internet users. . . .

Clerics might be reluctant to issue a fatwa that forces Muslims to choose between faith and addiction.

"(Even) if you say 'haram,' people will keep smoking because they are addicted," said Imam B. Prasodjo, a sociologist in Indonesia, the world's most populous Muslim nation, where almost two-thirds of men smoke. Prasodjo is trying to persuade Muslim leaders to at least impose a ban on cigarette advertising. . . .

Smoking is embedded in the culture of many Muslim countries. About 63 percent of men smoke in Jordan; 49 percent in Tunisia; 42 percent in Syria; 38 percent in the Palestinian territories and 28 percent each in Lebanon and Morocco. Few women smoke because of cultural taboos.

Cigarette packs in Egypt carry graphic images such as a dying man in an oxygen mask. In Jordan, billboards warn about the risks. In Lebanon, many restaurants have no-smoking zones.

But it remains a battle, even — and perhaps especially — during Ramadan.

Jump to full article »

• Law to combat smoking awaits Cabinet approval 

A new law to combat smoking in public and workplaces has been drafted and is awaiting Cabinet approval. Those smoking in public places will be fined SR200.

Suleiman Al-Sabi, secretary-general of the Charitable Society to Combat Smoking, urged those affected by smokers at work and public places to take legal action against them, demanding compensation.

"Parents should file lawsuits against teachers who smoke in schools as well as against traders who sell cigarettes to their children," he said.

He said the new law, which will be effective a year after its publication in the official gazette, was prepared by the committee of experts at the Council of Ministers. . . .

The law is significant as Saudi Arabia tops the list of tobacco importers, according to 2007 statistics. Iran is placed second, followed by Jordan, Turkey, Morocco and Egypt. He said cigarette smoking has so far caused the death of 3.48 million people worldwide this year, including 13,929 in Saudi Arabia.

He said the charitable society had asked GCC customs officials to raise customs tariff on cigarettes by 200 percent.

"Unfortunately they did not approve that proposal, saying it needed further study," he said. Al-Sabi emphasized the need for strict control on the sales of cigarettes.

Jump to full article »

• Living in a haze of tobacco smoke  

The World Health Organisation's (WHO) latest report, "Global Tobacco Epidemic 2008-MPOWER Package", has thrown up interesting facts and figures about passive smoking in Qatar. WHO's country report shows that a large number of womenfolk in Qatar are passive smokers.

The report says an estimated 33.8 percent of youth in Qatar are active smokers. Of this 12.7 percent are female.

But the proportion of Qatar's passive female smokers is an alarming 46.8 percent. This is the percentage of women who are exposed to smoke inside their homes. The rate may even touch 50.3 percent, the report states.

Significantly, the number of males exposed to tobacco smoke inside homes in Qatar is less than that of females.

Jump to full article »