Which 4 countries are winning the war against smoking?
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), only Brazil, Mauritius, the Netherlands, and Turkey have adopted all the recommended anti-smoking measures to combat smoking.
In a recent report, the UN health agency urged countries to increase the implementation of recognized measures, including advertising bans, prominent health warnings on cigarette packs, higher tobacco taxes, and support for quitting smoking.
Mauritius and the Netherlands have now joined Brazil and Turkey in fully implementing these measures.
The WHO revealed that 5.6 billion people, or 71% of the world’s population, are now protected by at least one tobacco control measure, marking a significant increase since 2007.
Global smoking prevalence has dropped from 22.8% in 2007 to 17% in 2021, preventing approximately 300 million additional smokers.
Yet smoking remains the leading preventable cause of death, claiming the lives of 8.7 million people each year, including 1.3 million from secondhand smoke inhalation.
The report highlighted that eight countries are just one political step away from joining the leaders in tobacco control, including Ethiopia, Iran, Ireland, Jordan, Madagascar, Mexico, New Zealand, and Spain.
Yet 2.3 billion people in 44 countries still lack protection from the WHO’s anti-smoking measures. Additionally, 53 countries do not have comprehensive smoking bans in healthcare settings, which the WHO deemed “completely unacceptable.”
The report also criticized insufficient regulation of e-cigarettes. While 121 countries have implemented some measures addressing e-cigarettes, 74 countries, representing almost a third of the world’s population, do not have regulations in place.
This lack of regulation includes the absence of public use bans, labeling requirements, and advertising restrictions.
The report stressed the need for stronger measures to protect children, as 88 countries, covering 2.3 billion people, do not have a minimum age for purchasing e-cigarettes.
Dr. Ruediger Krech, WHO director of health promotion, expressed concern about the influence and tactics of the tobacco industry. He called for efforts to engage with the industry before enacting laws, as they have been known to fight regulations.
Dr. Krech criticized attempts by the tobacco industry to appear as part of the solution while continuing to grow in profit and influence.
The WHO urges countries to prioritize the implementation of anti-smoking measures to protect public health and combat the harmful effects of smoking.