URUGUAY: The Australian High court's decision to uphold tough new anti-tobacco laws is being regarded as a watershed ruling for countries around the world but comes as no surprise in the South American nation of Uruguay

Record ID: 351548

  • Title: URUGUAY: The Australian High court's decision to uphold tough new anti-tobacco laws is being regarded as a watershed ruling for countries around the world but comes as no surprise in the South American nation of Uruguay
  • Date: 16th August 2012
  • Summary: MONTEVIDEO, URUGUAY (AUGUST 08, 2012) (REUTERS) PACKS OF CIGARETTES WITH WARNINGS VARIOUS OF PEOPLE WALKING IN STREET EXTERIOR OF CITY HALL VARIOUS OF PEOPLE SMOKING OUTSIDE CITY HALL VARIOUS OF EDUARDO BIANCO, PRESIDENT OF CENTRE FOR RESEARCH TOBACCO ADDICTION TOBACCO STORE ON STREET MAN BUYING CIGARETTES (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) EDUARDO BIANCO, PRESIDENT OF CENTRE FOR RESE
  • Embargoed: 31st August 2012 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Uruguay
  • Country: Uruguay
  • Topics: Health,Domestic Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA4ZIEE0682J5VTKCQJGK0IIEXS
  • Story Text: Smokers in Uruguay have been forced to confront graphic warnings on cigarette packets since 2006 when their presence became mandated by law. In 2009 the health warnings were enhanced with stronger graphics and enlarged to cover 80 percent of the pack, making them the most prominent in the world.
    The packaging law is just one component of a comprehensive anti-smoking campaign instituted by the Uruguayan government over the past nine years, and regarded by a recently published international study as among the most effective in the world.
    The International Tobacco Control Policy Evaluation Project (ITC Project) involving tobacco control researchers from 23 countries, says Uruguay's tobacco control strategy has made it a global leader in raising awareness about the dangers of smoking, and reducing tobacco-related diseases.
    The results of their five-year study show Uruguay's higher taxes, larger warnings on cigarette packs and ban on smoking in public spaces have all contributed.
    The country also banned advertising and promotion of cigarettes, as well as the sale of 'light' and 'mild' cigarettes.
    Dr. Eduardo Bianco, a cardiologist and President of the Tobacco Epidemic Research Centre of Uruguay (CIET), says that Uruguay has increased revenues while cutting back on tobacco sales since the campaign began in 2004.

    "It's been favourable. We've significantly reduced the number of people who smoke, adults and young people. We've also reduced the level of environmental contamination by 90 percent and hospital visits for heart attacks by 22 percent. The money has increased from $84 million in 2004 to $318 million in 2011, even though sales have dropped systematically from the tobacco tax," Bianco said.
    Former Montevideo mayor and ex-president of Uruguay Tabare Vazquez, a physician before entering politics, pushed for the anti-tobacco measures.
    Vazquez patterned the program after the World Health Organisation's Framework Convention on Tobacco Controls, combining periodic tax increases with increasingly large warnings on cigarettes packs, now covering 80 percent of the packaging, up from 50 percent in 2006.
    The ban on smoking in public areas, Bianco said, has helped these other measures gain traction.

    "The main steps are taken from the global treaty on public health, which is agreement to control tobacco that Uruguay reaffirmed in 2004. When President Vazquez arrived he began applying the laws in the best possible form. Raising cigarette prices is the most effective of those laws to reduce smoking in kids and adults. We've evaluated that. A large percentage of the drop has to do with the prices going up. The most important measure was prohibiting smoking in public building starting in March 2006. There was a general change in the people's attitude and that allowed other measures to take hold. Third, the warning that started the education process about the damage of cigarettes helped. We are really studying this and the warnings are having more and more of an impact on smokers," Bianco added.
    Statistics show now more smokers support the anti-tobacco measures, rising from half of smokers in 2006 to two-thirds in 2011.
    The government is also providing programs to help people quit.
    And the message is getting through to smokers like Gerardo Lopez.

    "I'm going to have to quit smoking" he said, adding that so far he hasn't had the necessary will power.
    For Arile Miranda however, no amount of cajoling by the governmnet will make her stop smoking. "Because I've tried to quit and can't." she said.
    The anti-smoking laws may not work for all smkoers but for non-smokers like Laura Casada, they are a step in the right direction.

    "I think they are good. At first people resisted a bit, but later even the smokers realised it was positive to have smoke-free bars and restaurants. Because before you left with the smell in your clothes and everything. Now everyone accepts it. Even when you go to a party or dinner people go outside to smoke," she said.

    " We have good air to breath and we are much happier," added Pablo Ordiozola, another non-smoker.
    Some smokers said cigarettes are too expensive, but other claimed the higher prices could help them kick the habit.

    "One of these days I'm going to run out of money and not be able to smoke anymore," said Mabel Perez.

    "I agree with it. If that money is invested in public health, I think it's best," added non-smoker Rodrigo Camano.
    In February 2010, Uruguay became the first country to prohibit sub-branding - 'light' and 'mild' cigarettes in different coloured packs - helping to debunk the myth that these cigarettes are less harmful and addictive.
    Three waves of test results over the five-year test period show smokers have a more realistic view of the harms of smoking, and more of them have quit or say they want to quit.

    "The results of the investigation of the smokers in this population between 2006 to 2011 were more pleasant than surprising. It had an impact on me because of the importance of it. It didn't surprise me because in some way it's what the international scientific evidence was predicting," Bianco said.
    The study in Uruguay was carried out in conjunction with the International Tobacco Control Policy Evaluation Project (the ITC Project), which has done investigations in 23 different countries.
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