Tobacco has played an integral role in Middle Eastern cultures for centuries through means such as cigarette smoking. The potentially disastrous ramifications of smoking led to countries such as the US and Poland passing laws that made the purchase of cigarettes difficult for consumers due to the high costs. These policies resulted in a dramatic decrease in cigarette smoking. However, smoking continues to be endemic in Middle Eastern countries such as Egypt, which is trying to take stringent action to reduce the prevalence of smoking in its population.
According to an Egyptian government survey, nearly half of all adult men smoke cigarettes and the use of tobacco is three times higher in teenage women than it is in older women.
Egypt was one of the first countries to sign the WHO's Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) and implemented legislation that required graphic pictures on cigarette packets, ban on cigarette marketing, ban on tobacco use in all public places except restaurants and bars, and a tax increase in all tobacco products. These strict laws probably contributed to a reduction in smoking prevalence, but increased illicit tobacco trade and gave rise to a black market.
The cigarette packets available in the black market come with no graphic pictures, warnings or taxes. They are readily available and three times cheaper than a legal packet. Many other countries around the world have witnessed a growing illicit tobacco trade and the FCTC suggests that countries should establish a global tracking and tracing system for tobacco products.
Until then, however, Egypt has to use measures such as banning the advertisement of cigarettes on hoardings and movies. The WHO and the Ministry of Health in Egypt are collaborating to reduce onscreen smoking in television shows and movies.
On reflection, it would be interesting to measure the success that Egypt experiences with their proposed measures. If Egypt is successful in combating smoking, its measures could be used as a model for countries that are struggling to reduce smoking rates.
Aditya Mehta is a College sophomore from Mumbai, India joint majoring in Sociology-Religion and minoring in Global health, Cultures and Society.
Read More
Trending
