http://www.tobacco.org/newsfeed/country/hungary.rss Latest top tobacco news headlines en-us http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2458/12/60 http://tobacco.org/news/332352.html Background The association between socioeconomic status and health-related behaviours has been clarified in several epidemiological studies. The aim of this study was to reveal the socioeconomic differences in health-related behaviours and in nutritional status of Hungarian and Romanian citizens living on both sides of the border. . . . Results The prevalence of smoking was similar in Hungarians and Romanians (33.2% and 36.4%). The frequency of "unhealthy diet" was 70.6% in Hungarians and 75.2% in Romanians. Physical inactivity was more prevalent in Romanians (73.2%) than in Hungarians (32.0%), while the prevalence of obesity was higher in Hungarians (22.0%) than in Romanians (16.5%). Based on the univariate logistic regression models the risk of smoking was higher among those with medium educational level (ORHu=1.66) and poor financial conditions (ORHu=3.13) in Hungarians. The risk of unhealthy diet was higher among the low educated (ORHu=1.77; ORRo=7.91) and among those with poor financial conditions (ORHu=2.05; ORRo=4.25). None of the socioeconomic factors was associated with leisure time physical inactivity. In the multivariate models obesity was associated with medium level of education in Hungarians, and with unhealthy diet in Romanians (ORRo=2.10). Physically inactive Hungarians were more (ORHu=1.74), whereas inactive Romanians were less (ORRo=0.64) likely to be obese than physically active people from the same country. Conclusions The present study shows that socioeconomic status is associated with health-related behaviours in a small area of Hungary and Romania. The results highlight the need for developing interventional strategies, focusing more on people in lower socioeconomic status, in order to reduce the existing inequalities in health and health-related behaviours. BioMed Central Hungary Romania Fri, 20 Jan 2012 05:00:00 GMT http://www.bbj.hu/business/hungarian-tobacco-industry-association-winds-up_62023 http://tobacco.org/news/330719.html The Hungarian Tobacco Industry Association will wind up at the end of January under a decision taken at an extraordinary general meeting of the professional group held earlier, the organisation told MTI on Monday. When asked by MTI, the association said it was winding up because of the departure of members. . . . At the same time the association was established, BAT Pecsi Dohanygyar, Continental Dohanyipari and Imperial Tobacco Magyarorszag cancelled their membership in the Hungarian Tobacco Industry Association. Budapest Business Journal Hungary Mon, 19 Dec 2011 05:00:00 GMT http://www.pestiside.hu/20111207/govt-plan-to-limit-tobacco-sales-seen-boosting-small-business-civil-society/ http://tobacco.org/news/330093.html A plan by the government to radically limit the number of locations where Hungarians can legally buy cigarettes and other tobacco products while simultaneously raising prices would lead to dramatic and potentially negative changes in the local market, business daily Napi Gazdaság reports. Under the proposed changes, the number of spots where people can buy smokes would be cut by more than three-quarters, from approximately 40,000 to under 6,000. Experts interviewed by the paper said such a radical move to limit sales points would lead to "chaos" in the market, and coupled with higher prices would drive smokers to use "illegal distribution channels." Pestiside.hu Hungary Wed, 07 Dec 2011 05:00:00 GMT http://www.bbj.hu/business/hungarian-tobacco-industry-companies-establish-new-professional-association_61747 http://tobacco.org/news/329767.html Hungarian tobacco companies on Thursday announced the establishment of a new professional association, the Hungarian Association of Tobacco Industry Investors (DBMSZ). The DBMSZ aims to represent the industry’s professional and business interests in a concerted way. Budapest Business Journal Hungary Thu, 01 Dec 2011 05:00:00 GMT http://www.realdeal.hu/20111129/govt-may-take-control-of-cigarette-sales/ http://tobacco.org/news/329545.html The cabinet may take control of the retail of cigarettes and similar products, restricting their sale to small family-run tobacconist stores in order to reduce smoking and create jobs, Fidesz caucus leader János Lázár told reporters on Monday. He said the issue is complex but is also urgent as more young people are taking up smoking. Minors are often able to buy cigarettes, he said, adding that this is more common at multinational retail chains. Lázár said the government wants to follow the Austrian model whereby only tobacconist stores would be authorised to sell tobacco products. realdeal.hu Hungary Tue, 29 Nov 2011 05:00:00 GMT http://blogs.wsj.com/emergingeurope/2011/11/28/hungary-wants-state-concession-on-selling-cigarettes/?mod=google_news_blog http://tobacco.org/news/329515.html The Hungarian government wants to introduce a state concession on the sale of tobacco products in an effort to keep minors from buying them and also to support small local businesses. “We are aware of minors regularly being able to buy cigarettes, which is something that usually happens at multinational stores,” Janos Lazar, the parliamentary group leader for the governing Fidesz party, told reporters Monday. Selling tobacco products and alcoholic beverages to buyers under 18 years old is illegal in Hungary. However, it can be hard to verify customers’ ages, especially at larger outlets with high foot traffic, so many don’t bother. “We are looking to adopt the Austrian model, which involves the designation of a set number of registered kiosks run by small local businesses,” Mr. Lazar said. As he explained, Hungarian smokers are estimated to spend up to 500 billion forints ($2.2 billion) a year on smokes, a market the government wants to be controlled by small family businesses. Wall Street Journal Blogs Hungary Tue, 29 Nov 2011 05:00:00 GMT http://www.bbj.hu/life/last-minute-change-to-amendments-would-postpone-rise-in-cigarette-tax_58718 http://tobacco.org/news/322903.html A last-minute change on Monday by Parliament's Constitutional Affairs Committee to a package of economy amendments would postpone an earlier planned rise in the excise tax on cigarettes. The committee removed the increase from the package before the final vote, arguing that conditions had to be established for the same taxation of products that are equally harmful to health. Budapest Business Journal Hungary Tue, 05 Jul 2011 04:00:00 GMT http://www.bbj.hu/politics/hungary-scraps-cigarette-tax-hike-plan-raises-ethanol-fuel-levy_58730 http://tobacco.org/news/322901.html Parliament approved last-minute changes to amendments that will postpone an earlier planned rise in the excise tax on cigarettes but raise the scale of an increase of the tax on E85 ethanol fuel blend instead of lowering it. MPs approved the changes with a vote of 251 for and 90 against. Parliament's Constitutional Affairs Committee tabled the postponement of the higher excise tax on cigarettes, arguing that conditions had to be established for the same taxation of products that are equally harmful to health. Budapest Business Journal Hungary Tue, 05 Jul 2011 04:00:00 GMT http://www.budapesttimes.hu/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=17998&Itemid=221 http://tobacco.org/news/319284.html Nicotine addicts will be forced to go outside for a puff after parliament passed legislation last week banning indoor smoking in all public places, including transport vehicles, stations, underground pedestrian passages and playgrounds, from 1 April next year. Tobacco-using MPs will have to visit one of the terraces of the parliament building but it is bar and restaurant owners who are most worried about the new regulation. While it is OK to light up a fag in Legends Sports Bar, principal owner Robert Longworth looks forward to the day when the bar, along with all the others in Hungary, is a non-smoking environment. Smoking will be outlawed in the vast majority of closed public spaces and even the courtyards of institutions including schools and hospitals, but it is the hospitality industry that expects to be hit hardest by the ban. Budapest Times Hungary Tue, 03 May 2011 04:00:00 GMT http://www.caboodle.hu/nc/news/news_archive/single_page/article/11/government_m-1/?cHash=4999b94986 http://tobacco.org/news/319109.html Parliament's approval on Tuesday of a ban on smoking in public places indoors is a successful step in the fight against the "epidemic" of smoking, Tamas Heintz, a deputy of the ruling Fidesz party and a proponent of the bill, told a press conference. Heintz said that the new law was the first milestone in a public health strategy based on a preventive approach. The deputy insisted that the ban would not cause "practically any economic drawbacks" for the catering industry. Heintz could not answer questions about the future utilisation of Parliament's smoking room, but said that supporters of the ban would try and convince as many of his peers as possible to stop smoking. Tobacco producers, however, are not so optimistic. Illes Benyei, head of the national federation of producers, said that the new ban would impact 25,000 families employed in the industry. . . . The smoking ban in all public locations indoors, including workplaces, restaurants and pubs Caboodle.hu Hungary Wed, 27 Apr 2011 04:00:00 GMT http://www.bbj.hu/economy/smoking-ban-would-not-hurt-tax-revenues-oefi-claims_56995 http://tobacco.org/news/317812.html The introduction of smoking ban in bars and restaurants would not cause the Hungarian state HUF 50 billion in tax losses, the National Institute for Health Development (OEFI) said in response to a study by NAV that estimated severe losses related to the measure, online media site Index wrote . . . OEFI cites several international examples where smoking ban did not caused losses. Budapest Business Journal Hungary Mon, 04 Apr 2011 04:00:00 GMT http://www.budapesttimes.hu/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=16911&Itemid=219 http://tobacco.org/news/316352.html Hungary looked set last Friday to join the growing number of European countries to implement a blanket ban on smoking in indoor public places as a group of government MPs presented a petition in parliament. State secretary for health Miklós Szócska said at a press conference that 28,000 Hungarians die each year of smoking-related disease. Another politician from the governing Fidesz party, Tamás Heintz, said the prohibition would come into force in July, after a three-month "tolerance" period. To further discourage smoking in Hungary plans are afoot to force manufacturers to put "shocking warnings, such as images of cancerous organs," on cigarette packets Budapest Times Hungary Wed, 02 Mar 2011 05:00:00 GMT http://bbjonline.hu/domestic/hungary-to-extend-public-smoking-ban_56273 http://tobacco.org/news/316351.html Hungary’s government is prepared to dust off a motion first raised in 2007 and ban smoking from all hospitality locations, restaurants, bars and party places, online portal Origo reports. . . . Now, there is apparently unity in the government, as the proposition reportedly enjoys the backing of the governing Fidesz party’s group of representatives as well as the state secretary in charge of healthcare. Anti-smoking measures in Hungary have gained momentum, with the recent introduction of a smoking ban in public transportation stops in Budapest. Budapest Business Journal Hungary Fri, 25 Feb 2011 05:00:00 GMT http://www.caboodle.hu/nc/news/news_archive/single_page/article/11/hungary_mull-1 http://tobacco.org/news/316350.html Fidesz MP Tamás Heintz is to submit an amendment to an anti-smoking bill that would also ban smoking in cars in which children younger than 18 are riding. Caboodle.hu Hungary Fri, 04 Mar 2011 05:00:00 GMT http://www.caboodle.hu/nc/news/news_archive/single_page/article/11/ombudsman_ba http://tobacco.org/news/316349.html Hungary's ombudsman for future generations said he supported plans for new anti-smoking legislation. The right to a healthy life must receive priority over business interests, Sandor Fulop said in a statement sent to MTI on Sunday. Fulop gave warning that after the legislation is introduced, strong monitoring will be necessary to make sure that the law is observed. Recent press reports said the planned legislation to ban smoking in cafes and restaurants in Hungary is expected to reduce budget revenues by at least 32.5 billion forints (EUR 118.6m) this year. If the proposal is approved by parliament, a further loss of up to 58.5 billion in excise tax revenues is also expected. Caboodle.hu Hungary Mon, 07 Mar 2011 05:00:00 GMT