According to statistics, 62% of men and 23% of women smoke in Russia today. Despite these bleak numbers, the cost of cigarettes in the country remains one of the lowest in the world. The Russian Ministry of Health is sounding the alarm, taking measures to limit tobacco consumption. At the end of May 2012, an anti-tobacco bill was submitted to the government for consideration, which, however, was sent back for revision. It is assumed that after the introduction of technical amendments, the law will be adopted.
In May 2012, the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation submitted to the government a draft law drastically restricting smoking in public places. It is assumed that the proposed measures will reduce the consumption of tobacco products by 40% and significantly reduce mortality in the country.
The ministry plans to phase out smoking in indoor workplaces, as well as in most public places. The law permits smoking only in designated areas and in open areas. This applies to long-distance trains, long-distance vessels, hotel complexes, cafes and restaurants.
In order to restrict smoking and reduce consumer demand for cigarettes, it is planned to establish minimum retail prices for tobacco products. It follows from the draft law that such prices will be revised upward by the government annually. Over time, tobacco prices in Russia will be brought to the level of European countries, which will allow, among other things, to replenish the budget by 600 billion rubles over the next five years.
It is also proposed to introduce a ban on the demonstration of smoking and tobacco products in audiovisual works, if this is not part of the meaning of such a work.
The bill will introduce a ban on the sale of tobacco in pussies and trade chests within the city, leaving this right only for shops that are allowed to trade in spirits. If there is any doubt that the buyer has reached the age of 18, the seller has the right to demand from the buyer a document proving his identity and containing data on age.
These are just the basic requirements that the Ministry of Health has reflected in the draft anti-tobacco law. After amendments are made and approvals are carried out with the concerned departments, the law will be re-submitted to the government and legislators. This is planned to happen before November 2012. The State Duma considered the measures proposed by the Ministry of Health to be too lenient and is preparing its own version of the anti-tobacco law.
