Bitter smoke that does not dissipate

Baku/31.05.18/Turan: May 31, according to the UN calendar, is "World No-Tobacco Day".

The main purpose of the establishment of this date is to draw the world's attention to the problem of eliminating nicotine dependence and smoking in the world. Exactly 30 years ago, when the World Health Organization (WHO) took an appropriate decision, the task was set: in the 21st century, tobacco smoking should be kept to a minimum. However, as world statistics show, the problem has become even more urgent.

Over the past twenty years, the proportion of smokers has increased. According to WHO, annually more than 6 million people in the world die from myocardial infarction, stroke, cancer, lung disease and other diseases caused by smoking. This figure does not include more than 600 thousand people who die every year from passive smoking.

Equally alarming situation in this sphere is observed in Azerbaijan. According to the representatives of the Ministry of Health, today the total number of smokers in our country is more than 3 million people. This means that every third citizen of the republic is nicotine dependent. Among the population aged 15 to 64 years, 53% of men and about 8% of women regularly smoke. An alarming trend is the increase in the spread of smoking among young people, the earlier use of cigarettes.

"Unfortunately, among adolescents aged 12-13 years, the addiction to smoking intensifies, which is connected with the psychological moment. They, imitating adults, demonstratively smoke cigarettes, but very soon after being sucked in, they cannot be cured of this addiction. Nicotine very quickly causes a person's dependence. Therefore, WHO included nicotine in the category of light drugs," said Dr.Azad Hajiyev, doctor of medical sciences.

The country has a law "On Restriction of the Use of Tobacco Products", which came into force in January this year. Adoption of the document was preceded by endless discussions, postponements of its consideration and adoption in the Milli Majlis for a long ten years. Deputies could not come to a common opinion about the mechanism for collecting fines for smoking in public places. It was about the body, who will fine offenders and collect these fines. Much has been said about the experience of Turkey, where municipal authorities are responsible for monitoring the implementation of the law. But our MPs finally decided that with such a responsible task the Azerbaijani municipalities cannot cope, and the work was entrusted to the law enforcement bodies, in particular to the police officers, who have extensive experience in punishing offenders. For this purpose, the Code of Administrative Offenses was amended.

According to the law, smoking is prohibited in educational and upbringing institutions, in health-improving, rehabilitation and sanatorium-resort establishments, in all institutions, offices, organizations and workplaces, regardless of the type of ownership and organizational and legal form, in places of sports competitions and other mass events, shopping venues, restaurants, cafes, bars and other public catering facilities, as well as public transport. Penalties in the amount of 30 to 1,000 manats are applied for violation of the law.

It is early to talk about the effectiveness of the fight against smoking in the country. Because there is no statistics that smokers became fewer.

An independent economist Azer Mehdiyev believes that along with administrative measures, economic ones should act. The prices of tobacco products in our country are rather low, the wide price range for cigarettes with respect to other consumer goods stipulates their economic accessibility. In addition, it would be advisable to stimulate, encourage non-smoking workers by raising their salaries. This would be an effective method of combating smoking. Such experience is practiced in Western countries. Of course, targeted social advertising, educational work throughout the country should be conducted and at the same time, people should be provided access to sports activities, recreation centers, so that they had a healthy lifestyle.