Breaking New Grounds in Tobacco Control - Voluntary Health ...

entertainment (28 per cent), followed
by the workplace and the school (24 per
cent) and at home (20 per cent).
The smoking ban did contribute to a
drop in the heart disease death rate and
hospital admissions in every country where
it was introduced. Unfortunately, it has
had no impact in Malta where the ban has
held sway since April 2004, a local study
revealed.
The authors suspect that in places of
entertainment the law is not enforced
for fear of losing out on business.
This notion was backed by The Times
when 14 bars in Paceville were visited
over two evenings and patrons could
be noticed smoking with impunity. An
Italian study based in bars, cafés and
restaurants in 2009 had shown that
customers had increased by three per
cent, a clear sign that we collectively
prefer a smoke-free environment.
The impact of second-hand smoke cannot
be overestimated: a 1992 study by the
American Heart Association had indicated
that those exposed to environmental
tobacco smoke at home had their risk of
death due to heart disease increase by
about 30 per cent. Children are particularly
vulnerable because they not only inhale
smoke but also pick up the belief that
smoking is acceptable.
The medical complications are serious
and include the risk of chest infections,
ear infections, admissions to hospital
with wheezing or asthma and cot death.
Thankfully, this is being slowly addressed
by recent legislation such as prohibiting
smoking in playgrounds.
Even more can be done. For example,
a campaign called Fresh Start, meant
to stop people smoking in cars when
children are travelling with them, has
been launched by the Welsh government.
And an outright ban will be considered
depending on the success of this threeyear
campaign. This is because the level
of toxic chemicals rises to very high
levels in cars, even with a window open.
This is tantamount to parents deliberately
poisoning their children.
The British Medical Association has
gone further, urging a total ban on
smoking in cars, regardless of the
occupant’s age because even the elderly
are put at risk when inhaling secondhand
smoke.
Source: The Times, Malta, 20 th February, 2012
Numbers Rise Astronomically
According to Global Adult Tobacco Survey
2009, at least 41.3 million people aged
above 15 used tobacco either in smoke
or smokeless form in Bangladesh. The
number was 32.3 million in 2007.
According to experts, tobacco usage
has decreased in developed world but
increased in developing countries due to
lax tobacco control laws.
Estimation suggests with 5.4 trillion
cigarettes consumed, the developing world
constitutes about 70 percent of the total
global tobacco use.
According to the World Health Organisation,
'very poor' households in countries such as
Bangladesh, Indonesia, Mexico and Egypt
spend up to 15 per cent of their income
on buying tobacco products.
Source: bdnews24, Dhaka, 25 th February, 2012
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January - March & April - June 2012