Armenian spent 100 million drams in 2019 on anti-smoking campaign
12.06.2020,
16:25
Armenia's health ministry spent 100 million drams (about $207,900) in 2019 to finance eight anti-smoking events, Health Minister Arsen Torosyan said in parliament on Friday.
YEREVAN, June 12. /ARKA/. Armenia's health ministry spent 100 million drams (about $207,900) in 2019 to finance eight anti-smoking events, Health Minister Arsen Torosyan said in parliament on Friday.
He said the money was used to prepare anti-smoking videos, street banners and special leaflets for the army servicemen.
The minister noted that anti-smoking campaign will continue in 2020 as well.
"Of course, there will be problems because of the pandemic, but we hope that we will be able to implement them. I think that this amount is disastrously small for such an important event, which will lead to a decrease in the number of non-communicable diseases," Torosyan said.
The anti-smoking law, passed by the Armenian parliament in February 2020, bans smoking while driving cars or buses and imposes a ban on tobacco advertising. The fine for indoor smoking ranges from 50,000 drams ($105) to 200,000 drams.
The ban on smoking in cafes, restaurants and other public catering facilities will enter into force on March 15, 2022. The ban on smoking in half-closed premises of public catering facilities will come into force on May 1, 2024. The ban on smoking in hotels, sanatoriums came into force on May 1, 2020.
The law bans also smoking in medical and educational institutions, youth sports organizations, near playgrounds, cultural facilities, in state and local government buildings and in places where smoking is prohibited because of fire safety rules .
According to Ministry of Health estimates, 52 percent of Armenian men are regular smokers. The smoking rate among Armenian women is much lower: 3 percent. But in Yerevan an estimated 10 percent of women aged between 30 and 40 are smokers. Smoking is blamed for a high incidence of deaths caused by lung cancer.
Tobacco companies in 2019 paid more than 120 billion drams in various taxes.
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He said the money was used to prepare anti-smoking videos, street banners and special leaflets for the army servicemen.
The minister noted that anti-smoking campaign will continue in 2020 as well.
"Of course, there will be problems because of the pandemic, but we hope that we will be able to implement them. I think that this amount is disastrously small for such an important event, which will lead to a decrease in the number of non-communicable diseases," Torosyan said.
The anti-smoking law, passed by the Armenian parliament in February 2020, bans smoking while driving cars or buses and imposes a ban on tobacco advertising. The fine for indoor smoking ranges from 50,000 drams ($105) to 200,000 drams.
The ban on smoking in cafes, restaurants and other public catering facilities will enter into force on March 15, 2022. The ban on smoking in half-closed premises of public catering facilities will come into force on May 1, 2024. The ban on smoking in hotels, sanatoriums came into force on May 1, 2020.
The law bans also smoking in medical and educational institutions, youth sports organizations, near playgrounds, cultural facilities, in state and local government buildings and in places where smoking is prohibited because of fire safety rules .
According to Ministry of Health estimates, 52 percent of Armenian men are regular smokers. The smoking rate among Armenian women is much lower: 3 percent. But in Yerevan an estimated 10 percent of women aged between 30 and 40 are smokers. Smoking is blamed for a high incidence of deaths caused by lung cancer.
Tobacco companies in 2019 paid more than 120 billion drams in various taxes.
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