Russia Attempts to Curb Public Smoking

All of Europe seems to be involved in a love affair with tobacco, and Russia is no exception.

More than half of all Russian adults smoke, and up to 500,000 people die in Russia each year of smoking-related causes. Around 80% of Russians are exposed to passive smoking daily, and about 40% of women who smoke continue the habit through pregnancy.

It was only in June that Russia forced tobacco manufacturers to post health warnings on cigarette packs, adopting standards similar to those in the United States and the European Union. Now, Primie Minister Putin has approved a new anti-smoking program aimed at reducing tobacco consumption and lowering the number of tobacco-related deaths.

Under the new program, tobacco advertising will be banned by 2012 and a ban on all smoking in public places by 2015 has been proposed.

How hard will it be for Russia, where some 400 billion cigarettes were produced last year, to break its tobacco habit?

For the full article from Reuters, click here.

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