Latest news with #tobaccocontrol
Mail & Guardian
14-07-2025
- Health
- Mail & Guardian
If a cigarette box isn't disgusting, it's not doing its job
A throat ulcer. Bloody urine. A sick baby. That's what smokers in other countries see. In South Africa? For now, it's a tiny black box. Photo: Canva In Bangladesh, cigarette packs show a photograph of an ulcer on a throat or someone on a ventilator. Mexico's show bloody urine in a toilet or a woman with breast cancer. In South Africa, a small black box reads: 'Warning: Smoking kills'. When warning signs are big, graphic and swopped out regularly, they stop people from smoking, according to the World Health Organisation's (WHO) latest Yet, despite the WHO finding South Africa — along with Lesotho — has the highest proportion of adults who smoke daily in Africa, Local cigarette packs have eight different warning texts such as 'Danger: Smoking causes cancer' and 'Warning: Don't smoke around children', but none show images. There are also 'We don't have graphic warnings [which is a problem because] many people can't read the text that's only in English, and we don't enforce laws around advertisement, particularly for e-cigarettes.' That will change if parliament passes the 'Weak' text only warnings The WHO recommends cigarette pack warnings as Picture warnings showing the harms of smoking, like blackened lungs or children in hospital beds, are According to the WHO report, about 110 countries use cigarette graphic warnings, but 40 — including South Africa — still have 'weak' text-only labels or none at all. Canada was the 'The colour of the pack makes a difference' Under South Africa's proposed anti-smoking legislation, all cigarette packs sold in the country will carry plain packaging and graphic warnings. Tobacco products will be wrapped in a uniform plain colour chosen by the health minister and must have warnings that cover at least 65% of the front and back. Cigarette packs must show messages about the harms of smoking or benefits of quitting, information on what the product contains and emits, and include pictures or graphics that show the health risks. 'Our Local 'The colour of the pack makes a difference,' says Ayo-Yusuf. 'South Africans look at their pack in making a brand choice, and that choice is linked to what we call the expected sensory experience [how satisfying smoking is], which leads to smoking more cigarettes a day,' The rules on packaging and warnings won't stop at cigarettes. They will also apply to nicotine products like e-cigarettes (or vapes) — devices that heat a liquid containing flavourings such as gummy bear or cherry peach lemon in colourful packaging Plain packaging makes e-cigarettes less appealing to young people. In a 2023 Nevertheless, plain packaging has become one of the main targets of the tobacco industry's pushback against the Bill. Big Tobacco strikes back The Tobacco Bill has been in the making since Because South Africa's rules on advertising tobacco are strict, Big Tobacco relies on packaging as a When cigarettes are produced illegally with fake trademarks or sold to customers before taxes are paid on the goods, it is seen as illicit trade. While companies have long 'Currently, they're already producing these cigarettes and The industry also For example, current rules list eight warning texts that must alternate on cigarette packs, while smokeless tobacco products only carry one about oral cancer. 'They are jumping ahead by claiming you can't regulate vapes the same way as cigarettes. The regulation could say that cigarette packs must have a graphic of a sick baby, while vapes show an image of someone chained to addiction.' In a parliamentary hearing last month, Once the hearings end, it will be up to the National Assembly to pass, amend or reject the Bill before it finally goes to the National Council of Provinces and then the president to be signed into law. And if it is signed, not only cigarette packs — but the tobacco industry in South Africa — could look very different. This story was produced by the . Sign up for the .
Zawya
10-07-2025
- Health
- Zawya
Kenya on spot over missed tobacco taxation targets
Kenya is among the countries that have failed to maintain best-practice tobacco tax levels, missing a critical opportunity to reduce tobacco use, save lives and unlock new revenue for health financing. A report by the World Health Organisation (WHO) said that Kenya is among 20 countries that have either never reached or have since fallen below the threshold, where tobacco taxes account for at least 75 percent of the retail price of cigarettes; a benchmark regarded as the most effective tool for tobacco control. Kenya's tobacco tax share is between 70 percent and 74 percent of the retail price as of 2024, placing it within five percentage points of the WHO's recommended best-practice level of 75 percent. Best-practice tobacco taxation, as defined by the WHO, means that total taxes, including excise, value added tax, and other applicable levies, account for at least 75 percent of the retail price of the best-selling brand of cigarettes. Reaching this threshold represents a powerful alignment of financial and health policies and signals a government's commitment to deterring smoking, preventing disease, and reducing healthcare costs.'Of the 20 countries that have not maintained their previous achievement of a best-practice tax share, six are mentioned above as having a tax share between 70 percent and 74 percent in 2024... Kenya [is] among them...,' read the report. Other countries in this category are Australia, Colombia, Egypt, Germany, Jordan, Morocco, Sri Lanka, and South Sudan. Among the countries that have increased their efforts is Belarus, which raised its tobacco tax from 56.6 percent in 2022 to 76.9 percent in 2024, joining countries like Indonesia and Palau, which have achieved best-practice status. The WHO reports that, globally, 1.2 billion people now live in countries that have adopted best-practice tobacco taxes, including 128 million people in 24 of the world's largest cities. However, no Kenyan city has made it to that list. Internationally, countries like Côte d'Ivoire and Uzbekistan introduced reforms that elevated them to the top-performing category. Read: Cigarette companies lobby to stop higher taxes on tobacco"Taxing tobacco is one of the most cost-effective and impactful interventions governments can implement. It works, it saves lives, and it pays for itself. Every country has the power to protect its people from tobacco," said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. Tobacco is a major risk factor for noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), such as cancer, heart disease, and chronic respiratory illnesses, which together account for more than a third of all deaths in Kenya. Despite having formally agreed to the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control and established the Tobacco Control Act, Kenya's taxation policy is not strong enough. The absence of a strong tax regime keeps cigarette prices relatively low, especially for young people and low-income populations, where price sensitivity is highest. According to the WHO, a 10 percent price increase on tobacco products can lead to a five percent reduction in consumption in low- and middle-income countries, with an even stronger effect on youth. In 2023, Kenya collected an estimated Ksh20 billion (about $155 million) in tobacco excise tax revenue, while the Ministry of Health reports that Kenya loses approximately Ksh15 billion ($166 million) annually in direct healthcare expenses and productivity losses from tobacco-related illnesses. © Copyright 2022 Nation Media Group. All Rights Reserved. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
Mail & Guardian
01-07-2025
- Business
- Mail & Guardian
‘Vapes are safe alternatives to smoking' — and other lies they tell us
We talked to Lekan Ayo-Yusuf, a member of the WHO's study group on tobacco product regulation, about the 2025 WHO Report on the Global Tobacco Epidemic, and the Tobacco Bill. (Vaping360/Flickr) Smoking cigarettes on a plane was normal until tobacco control laws put a stop to it. The new normal — taking a puff on any of the latest electronic devices in a shopping centre where smoking isn't allowed. Big Tobacco is good at adapting. With The It is a timely release for South Africa. Our own Bill, meant to better Pages from the playbook The report lays out how Big Tobacco's well-honed tactics — and some new ones — are being used to sell new products and keep legislation to slow sales down at bay. Among these are co-opting the term From WHO Global Tobacco Epidemic report (2025) The industry has also The industry also In many countries, illicit trade can refer to counterfeit products or smuggled foreign cigarettes. But a Ayo-Yusuf agrees: 'It's got nothing to do with tobacco legislation and everything to do with the criminal element in the industry.' Where there's smoke E-cigarettes and vapes — electronic devices that heat a liquid containing additives and chemicals, which are often In fact, inhaling the aerosol from vapes Yet HTPs dodge 'They're violating the current tobacco laws in broad daylight,' says Ayo-Yusuf. 'You cannot market or promote tobacco products. But you see people smoking in public places and you have whole HTP stores and stands in shopping malls.' That's what the Bill is trying to put an end to. It will apply strict laws to newer devices: no use in public spaces; no advertising, online sales or claims that they're less harmful than cigarettes and regulations will require graphic health warnings as well as plain packaging to deter people from using them. If it gets passed in its current form, it will also be the end of fruit-flavoured vapes — which have been We spoke to Ayo-Yusuf about the growing market for heated tobacco, harm reduction and how regulation can keep pace. This is an edited version of our conversation. Zano Kunene (ZK): How well does SA do in tobacco control? Lekan Ayo-Yusuf (LAY): Not well, ZK: Which smoking products are tobacco companies pushing in SA? LAY: Vapes are a big one as we had ZK: What are HTPs and how do they differ from conventional cigarettes? LAY: ZK: Why does the industry call them LAY: The industry has jumped ahead to say they reduce harm, but what we actually know is it The industry says they are targeting smokers trying to quit. The easiest evidence for this would be a drop in cigarette smoking. But since e-cigarettes entered the market in 2010, there is no evidence ZK: Are people swopping cigarettes for these products? LAY: We are not seeing an exchange. Some people are actually smoking heated tobacco or vapes plus their cigarettes. There are also This story was produced by the . Sign up for the .
CNN
01-07-2025
- Politics
- CNN
France leads Europe in saying au revoir to beach and park smoking
This summer in Paris, a sunset cigarette under the Eiffel Tower could come with an unexpected price tag. Starting July 1, France has banned smoking in all outdoor areas frequented by children — including parks, beaches, public gardens, bus stops, school entrances, and sports venues. The sweeping measure is part of President Emmanuel Macron's pledge to create 'the first tobacco-free generation' by 2032. Lighting up in these zones could cost smokers more than a dirty look from a passerby. Those who break the rules — including unsuspecting tourists — face a fine of 90 euros if they pay within 15 days, going up to 135 euros (around $150) after that. 'France is positioning itself as one of Europe's most proactive countries in terms of tobacco control,' Raquel Venâncio, senior policy officer at Smoke Free Partnership, a coalition of European tobacco control advocacy groups, told CNN. While countries like Spain and Italy have introduced restrictions on smoking in certain areas at local or regional levels, France stands out as the only European country to enforce a nationwide ban against beach smoking. But not all citizens support the new measure. 'The more time goes by, the more the government wants to take away our basic freedoms,' Elise Levaux, a 25-year-old student in Paris, told CNN. 'If you're being respectful — not throwing away cigarette butts in a park or beach, not disturbing others — I don't see the problem. Why should smoking suddenly be treated like a crime?' The restrictions are undoubtedly a major shift in a country long synonymous with cigarette culture. From Brigitte Bardot to Charles de Gaulle, French icons were rarely seen without a Gauloises — the archetypal French brand — in hand. 'France's intellectual circles and cinematic culture have normalized cigarettes for generations,' Venâncio observed. 'For decades, there was no political will to ban smoking.' But the national relationship with tobacco is changing. Smoking in France is at its lowest level since the 1990s, the National Committee against Tobacco (CNCT) reports. Today, around a third of adults in France smoke, with 23% of the adult population saying they smoke daily, according to a 2024 report from the French national public health agency. Tobacco use is declining among young people, with only 16% of 17-year-olds reporting they smoke daily in 2022, the most recent data available — down from 25% six years prior. Still, France remains one of Europe's most tobacco-dependent countries, fueled in part by what officials have called an 'explosion' in cigarette smuggling, largely from Bulgaria, Turkey, and Algeria. In 2024 alone, France consumed an estimated 18.7 billion illicit cigarettes, according to a KPMG study carried out for tobacco giant Philip Morris — accounting for a staggering 38% of tobacco use and making it the largest illicit tobacco market in Europe. Most regular smokers begin in their teenage years, with nearly 90% of them picking up the habit before turning 18, according to the Ministry of Health. 'I've been smoking since I was 14,' said Jane, 25, who declined to give her last name. 'Most of my friends started just as young. Fine or no fine, we're going to continue smoking. It's part of the French identity — we fight for what we want. We're not robots.' In a statement shared with CNN, Minister of Health Catherine Vautrin said that 'protecting youth and denormalizing smoking' is an 'absolute priority' for the government. 'At 17, you should be building your future, not your addiction,' she said. 'Where there are children, tobacco must disappear.' Unlike Belgium and the United Kingdom, which recently prohibited the sale of disposable vapes, France's new rules do not ban e-cigarettes — at least for now. The new regulations do, however, include a reduction in authorized nicotine levels in vaping products, as well as strict limits on flavors like cotton candy, which critics say are designed to appeal to young people. 'These products serve as gateways to addiction and will be regulated, starting in 2026,' Vautrin said. Tobacco use remains the leading preventable health risk in the European Union, causing nearly 700,000 premature deaths each year, according to EU figures. In France alone, it accounts for 75,000 deaths each year — equivalent to 200 deaths per day, according to the country's health ministry. Beyond the direct toll on smokers and those around them, tobacco products also pose an environmental hazard. An estimated 20,000 to 25,000 tons of cigarette butts are discarded across France each year, according to the Ministry of Health. France banned the sale of cigarettes to minors under 18 in 2009. But enforcement has been lax: a study by the National Committee against Tobacco (CNCT) found that nearly two-thirds of tobacco shops continue to sell cigarettes to underage customers. And while minors are prohibited from buying tobacco, no law prevents them from smoking — a legal loophole that the government has promised to address in future legislation. In contrast to Sweden — the only European country to have fully banned smoking on restaurant and bar terraces — France continues to permit smoking in these spaces. Even the UK, which has some of Europe's strictest anti-smoking policies, allows smoking in pub gardens. 'We've been trying to push for a ban on terrace smoking for almost a decade, but it's very challenging,' Amélie Eschenbrenner, spokeswoman for the French National Committee for Tobacco Control (CNCT), told CNN. 'Having a cigarette with a glass of wine — it's an integral part of French culture.' But tradition isn't the only barrier. According to Eschenbrenner, the main obstacle to banning terrace smoking is lobbying by the tobacco industry. France has almost 23,000 licensed tabacs — tobacco shops that occupy the corners of many urban streets. A CNCT study found that tobacconists enjoy a level of popular support comparable to that of public health agencies. 'They use their popularity to sway decision-makers, especially parliamentarians,' Eschenbrenner explained. 'That's why enforcing a widespread ban is so difficult.' CNN approached a dozen tobacconists in Paris seeking their view on the new law, but none wanted to speak. Still, change may be on the horizon. 'In 2007, when France enforced a ban on smoking inside restaurants, bars and nightclubs, there was a lot of push-back,' Eschenbrenner recalled. 'But over time, people got used to it and accepted it. The same is likely to happen with these new regulations — and, hopefully, with a future ban on terrace smoking.' As part of its strategy to reduce cancer rates, the European Commission aims to reduce tobacco use to less than 5% of the EU population by 2040. In the same vein, France's government has indicated that the latest restrictions may be the first step in a wider crackdown on tobacco. 'Tobacco is poison,' said Vautrin. 'It kills, it costs, it pollutes. I refuse to give up the fight. Every day without tobacco is a life gained. Our goal is clear: a tobacco-free generation — and we have the means to achieve it.'
CNN
01-07-2025
- Politics
- CNN
France leads Europe in saying au revoir to beach and park smoking
This summer in Paris, a sunset cigarette under the Eiffel Tower could come with an unexpected price tag. Starting July 1, France has banned smoking in all outdoor areas frequented by children — including parks, beaches, public gardens, bus stops, school entrances, and sports venues. The sweeping measure is part of President Emmanuel Macron's pledge to create 'the first tobacco-free generation' by 2032. Lighting up in these zones could cost smokers more than a dirty look from a passerby. Those who break the rules — including unsuspecting tourists — face a fine of 90 euros if they pay within 15 days, going up to 135 euros (around $150) after that. 'France is positioning itself as one of Europe's most proactive countries in terms of tobacco control,' Raquel Venâncio, senior policy officer at Smoke Free Partnership, a coalition of European tobacco control advocacy groups, told CNN. While countries like Spain and Italy have introduced restrictions on smoking in certain areas at local or regional levels, France stands out as the only European country to enforce a nationwide ban against beach smoking. But not all citizens support the new measure. 'The more time goes by, the more the government wants to take away our basic freedoms,' Elise Levaux, a 25-year-old student in Paris, told CNN. 'If you're being respectful — not throwing away cigarette butts in a park or beach, not disturbing others — I don't see the problem. Why should smoking suddenly be treated like a crime?' The restrictions are undoubtedly a major shift in a country long synonymous with cigarette culture. From Brigitte Bardot to Charles de Gaulle, French icons were rarely seen without a Gauloises — the archetypal French brand — in hand. 'France's intellectual circles and cinematic culture have normalized cigarettes for generations,' Venâncio observed. 'For decades, there was no political will to ban smoking.' But the national relationship with tobacco is changing. Smoking in France is at its lowest level since the 1990s, the National Committee against Tobacco (CNCT) reports. Today, around a third of adults in France smoke, with 23% of the adult population saying they smoke daily, according to a 2024 report from the French national public health agency. Tobacco use is declining among young people, with only 16% of 17-year-olds reporting they smoke daily in 2022, the most recent data available — down from 25% six years prior. Still, France remains one of Europe's most tobacco-dependent countries, fueled in part by what officials have called an 'explosion' in cigarette smuggling, largely from Bulgaria, Turkey, and Algeria. In 2024 alone, France consumed an estimated 18.7 billion illicit cigarettes, according to a KPMG study carried out for tobacco giant Philip Morris — accounting for a staggering 38% of tobacco use and making it the largest illicit tobacco market in Europe. Most regular smokers begin in their teenage years, with nearly 90% of them picking up the habit before turning 18, according to the Ministry of Health. 'I've been smoking since I was 14,' said Jane, 25, who declined to give her last name. 'Most of my friends started just as young. Fine or no fine, we're going to continue smoking. It's part of the French identity — we fight for what we want. We're not robots.' In a statement shared with CNN, Minister of Health Catherine Vautrin said that 'protecting youth and denormalizing smoking' is an 'absolute priority' for the government. 'At 17, you should be building your future, not your addiction,' she said. 'Where there are children, tobacco must disappear.' Unlike Belgium and the United Kingdom, which recently prohibited the sale of disposable vapes, France's new rules do not ban e-cigarettes — at least for now. The new regulations do, however, include a reduction in authorized nicotine levels in vaping products, as well as strict limits on flavors like cotton candy, which critics say are designed to appeal to young people. 'These products serve as gateways to addiction and will be regulated, starting in 2026,' Vautrin said. Tobacco use remains the leading preventable health risk in the European Union, causing nearly 700,000 premature deaths each year, according to EU figures. In France alone, it accounts for 75,000 deaths each year — equivalent to 200 deaths per day, according to the country's health ministry. Beyond the direct toll on smokers and those around them, tobacco products also pose an environmental hazard. An estimated 20,000 to 25,000 tons of cigarette butts are discarded across France each year, according to the Ministry of Health. France banned the sale of cigarettes to minors under 18 in 2009. But enforcement has been lax: a study by the National Committee against Tobacco (CNCT) found that nearly two-thirds of tobacco shops continue to sell cigarettes to underage customers. And while minors are prohibited from buying tobacco, no law prevents them from smoking — a legal loophole that the government has promised to address in future legislation. In contrast to Sweden — the only European country to have fully banned smoking on restaurant and bar terraces — France continues to permit smoking in these spaces. Even the UK, which has some of Europe's strictest anti-smoking policies, allows smoking in pub gardens. 'We've been trying to push for a ban on terrace smoking for almost a decade, but it's very challenging,' Amélie Eschenbrenner, spokeswoman for the French National Committee for Tobacco Control (CNCT), told CNN. 'Having a cigarette with a glass of wine — it's an integral part of French culture.' But tradition isn't the only barrier. According to Eschenbrenner, the main obstacle to banning terrace smoking is lobbying by the tobacco industry. France has almost 23,000 licensed tabacs — tobacco shops that occupy the corners of many urban streets. A CNCT study found that tobacconists enjoy a level of popular support comparable to that of public health agencies. 'They use their popularity to sway decision-makers, especially parliamentarians,' Eschenbrenner explained. 'That's why enforcing a widespread ban is so difficult.' CNN approached a dozen tobacconists in Paris seeking their view on the new law, but none wanted to speak. Still, change may be on the horizon. 'In 2007, when France enforced a ban on smoking inside restaurants, bars and nightclubs, there was a lot of push-back,' Eschenbrenner recalled. 'But over time, people got used to it and accepted it. The same is likely to happen with these new regulations — and, hopefully, with a future ban on terrace smoking.' As part of its strategy to reduce cancer rates, the European Commission aims to reduce tobacco use to less than 5% of the EU population by 2040. In the same vein, France's government has indicated that the latest restrictions may be the first step in a wider crackdown on tobacco. 'Tobacco is poison,' said Vautrin. 'It kills, it costs, it pollutes. I refuse to give up the fight. Every day without tobacco is a life gained. Our goal is clear: a tobacco-free generation — and we have the means to achieve it.'
