THE CABINET is today expected to approve legislation bringing Cyprus’ anti-smoking laws in line with EU norms and putting an end to cigarette advertising.
Health Minister Frixos Savvides outlined the anticipated changes during a World No-Tobacco Day news conference yesterday.
"Every form of advertising of tobacco products and sponsoring by tobacco product producers will be prohibited from August 1 2001."
Savvides said the Cabinet was also expected to approve legislation monitoring advertising until that date.
"And this because powerful advertising campaigns glorify tobacco products as providers of strength, wealth, freedom, fun and health."
The issue of smoking in public leisure spots and at the workplace would also be examined in more detail, he said.
Penalties for smoking related violations are also set to rise to a £1,000 fine or six months imprisonment or both, Savvides said.
The maximum penalty for breach of no-smoking laws currently stands at a £500 fine, which is rarely imposed.
Savvides said that Health Ministry efforts to help people give up smoking included a proposal to raise cigarette taxes to two thirds of their retail price.
Cigarettes in Cyprus are among the cheapest in Europe. A pack of 20 can cost as little as £1 in Cyprus, four times cheaper than in Britain.
The Minister said assistance would also be given to people wanting to give up smoking through psychological support and the provision of nicotine patches.
He announced that a pilot programme would shortly be introduced to help Health Ministry staff and their spouses give up smoking. And he added that he would be joining in, having himself failed in a recent attempt to kick the habit.
Savvides said the project would cost the state approximately £120 per participant, not including the wages of the medical staff manning the support team.
The efforts will be accompanied by an intense media campaign to inform the public and young people in general about the dangers of smoking.
The Health Minister also used yesterday’s news conference to announce the winners of the Cyprus section of an international `Quit&Win 2000’ competition.
Christodoulos Matsoukas from Lakatamia yesterday won £500 after successfully giving up the habit for a month. His name will now go into an international draw with a $10,000 prize.
The £300 second prize went to Niki Prodromopoulos from Aglandja while Kapsalos, Limassol resident Andreas Christodoulou won the third prize of £200.
One hundred and eighteen people entered the competition in Cyprus.
Twelve of the entrants were picked at random near the competition’s close and tested to see whether they had indeed given up the habit during the month.
Five of the twelve said they had failed to quit and another failed to show up for urine and breath tests to verify that the had actually stopped smoking.
The remaining six were put into draw from which the winners were chosen yesterday.
According to research published by the Health Ministry last year, 23 per cent of the adult population smokes, marking a rise both in the general figure and in the number of young smokers.
Four million people die across the world every year from smoking related illness, with the number expected to rise to 10 million in 25 years’ time.
