Thailand to mark World No Tobacco Day on May 31

[rooster59]

Thailand to mark World No Tobacco Day on May 31

Thammarat Thadaphrom

BANGKOK, 28 May 2016 (NNT) – World No Tobacco Day which falls on May 31st will be celebrated in Thailand as the Ministry of Public Health is preparing for the upcoming event.

Dr. Amnuay Gajeena, the Director-General of the Disease Control Department under the supervision of the Ministry of Public Health, said World No Tobacco Day celebrations will be held at Future Park Rangsit.

It's hoped the event will raise awareness of the dangers of smoking, among Thai youth. According to a survey conducted in 2014, more than 353,000 youngsters aged between 15 and 18 smoke cigarettes, while the number of smokers between 19 and 24 years of age is as many as a million people. The shocking statistics also suggest that up to 70 percent of Thai youths smoke cigarettes, while Thailand sees around 200,000 - 250,000 new smokers take up the dangerous habit, on a yearly basis.

He said the ministry will push for a law that forbids manufacturers from putting logos on cigarette packs. The move is intended to discourage people from smoking.

-- NNT 2016-05-29

[Winniedapu]

Wasn't someone quite high up in Thailand something big in the Thai tobacco industry? An advisor or chief chemist or something? I'm sure I remember something about that...

W

[SOTIRIOS]

...everything else....business as usual.....

[wirat69]

...damn... the alternatives are illegal!!!

[connda]

How about simply making the highly addictive drug illegal to use? The reason it isn't is because of the incredible hypocrisy of those who make the rules. Yaba, marijauna, mushrooms, etc all illegal because they are considered 'dangerous'. Tobacco kills scores of thousand a year -- but no problem. Hypocritical to the max. No tobacco day is a band-aid on a bullet wound.

[DrTuner]

It's not the nicotine, it's the byproducts of burning plant matter. So let's ban vaping, eh?

[tuanku]

Any person who refuses to wear a helmet on a motorcycle is unlikely to consider the potential health risks of smoking.

[deckape]

Hope this doesn't happen again

[Brer Fox]

I could be wrong but my understanding is that the Government has banned electronic cigarettes. Is that true?

If it is true that is a most retrograde thing to do in the fight against the seriousness of the health issues associated with the inhaling of tobacco smoke. Like lung disease including emphysema, chronic bronchitis and lung cancer. It also damages the heart and blood circulation.

These health problems are caused by the resins and the tars and carbon monoxide in tobacco rather than the addictive nicotine itself.

By "smoking" electronic vapourisers nicotine consumers are getting their drug in a much safer way. The use of nicotine vapourisers is gaining popularity in Europe for that reason.

Electronic cigarettes should not be banned. There is nothing stopping the government imposing a legal tax on the sale of liquid nicotine.

Of course tobacco companies wouldn't be happy about that and some of their "donations" to government and individuals for "sponsorships" might just dry up.

[BudRight]

How about simply making the highly addictive drug illegal to use? The reason it isn't is because of the incredible hypocrisy of those who make the rules. Yaba, marijauna, mushrooms, etc all illegal because they are considered 'dangerous'. Tobacco kills scores of thousand a year -- but no problem. Hypocritical to the max. No tobacco day is a band-aid on a bullet wound.

Yeah because weed, shrooms and yaba are soooo hard to get. Every ban just creates a black market. Australia is about to that out the hard way with their defacto ban.

[silent]

Any person who refuses to wear a helmet on a motorcycle is unlikely to consider the potential health risks of smoking.

For many wearing a helmet gives as much of a false sense of security as a plaster Jesus on the dashboard and consider potential health risks of their actions even less. Although they may not smoke themselves.

[Winniedapu]

Any person who refuses to wear a helmet on a motorcycle is unlikely to consider the potential health risks of smoking.

For many wearing a helmet gives as much of a false sense of security as a plaster Jesus on the dashboard and consider potential health risks of their actions even less. Although they may not smoke themselves.

Indeed. I'm not even very confident that the quality or Thai crash hats is good enough to prevent head injury. many of them seem to disintegrate if you so much as look at them, but I guess that's another story...

[jaltsc]

" the Ministry of Public Health is preparing for the upcoming event."

Maybe they will hand out the first 2000 baht fine for smoking in a restaurant.

[tuanku]

Any person who refuses to wear a helmet on a motorcycle is unlikely to consider the potential health risks of smoking.

For many wearing a helmet gives as much of a false sense of security as a plaster Jesus on the dashboard and consider potential health risks of their actions even less. Although they may not smoke themselves.

Well the only way to answer that would be, I guess, to conduct a survey of MC riders to see if there was a statistical correlation between helmet wearing and not smoking.

It was my conjecture, unsupported by hard fact, that making a decision not to wear protective clothing and willfully harming oneself with carcinogens were both consistent with a certain attitude to life and death prevalent within the Thai population.

From my own observations, none of the young Thai men in my circle of acquaintances wear helmets, and they all smoke. They also all wear amulets which is the equivalent of your plaster Jesus.

On the other hand the few bike riding, non smoking farangs I know all put their helmets on every time they get on their bikes. Anecdotal evidence for you.

[ratcatcher]

Welcome to Thailand Tobacco Monopoly

A state enterprise under the supervision of the Ministry of Finance

Thailand Tobacco Monopoly was established in 1939 according to the Cabinet’s resolution. TTM operates in the tobacco production and distribution business in order to contribute revenue to the State for the country development and plays an important role in the economic system of Thailand. It has been engaged in Thai society for a long time"

;/Source : http://www.thaitobacco.or.th/en/

No doubt the Ministry of Health will be getting another strongly worded letter from the Ministry of Finance.

[tuanku]

Any person who refuses to wear a helmet on a motorcycle is unlikely to consider the potential health risks of smoking.

For many wearing a helmet gives as much of a false sense of security as a plaster Jesus on the dashboard and consider potential health risks of their actions even less. Although they may not smoke themselves.

Indeed. I'm not even very confident that the quality or Thai crash hats is good enough to prevent head injury. many of them seem to disintegrate if you so much as look at them, but I guess that's another story...

Many motorbike accidents in Thailand occur at relatively low speeds, (20 to 60 kph) similar to what might occur on a pedal powered bicycle. In these cases, the foam cored, plastic shelled cheapo helmet WILL make the difference between a fractured skull and a nasty headache and mild concussion if it is being worn and is fastened securely, not a given.

They will not be of much assistance in a high speed collision, or in being run over by a heavy goods vehicle, but in the latter case neither would a 20,000 baht proper helmet.

What this has to do with cigarettes I am not sure!

[Winniedapu]

Any person who refuses to wear a helmet on a motorcycle is unlikely to consider the potential health risks of smoking.

For many wearing a helmet gives as much of a false sense of security as a plaster Jesus on the dashboard and consider potential health risks of their actions even less. Although they may not smoke themselves.

Indeed. I'm not even very confident that the quality or Thai crash hats is good enough to prevent head injury. many of them seem to disintegrate if you so much as look at them, but I guess that's another story...

Many motorbike accidents in Thailand occur at relatively low speeds, (20 to 60 kph) similar to what might occur on a pedal powered bicycle. In these cases, the foam cored, plastic shelled cheapo helmet WILL make the difference between a fractured skull and a nasty headache and mild concussion if it is being worn and is fastened securely, not a given.

They will not be of much assistance in a high speed collision, or in being run over by a heavy goods vehicle, but in the latter case neither would a 20,000 baht proper helmet.

What this has to do with cigarettes I am not sure!

Nothing at all, unless the crash victim was also smoking. It was off-topic, you're right.

W

[Rough Rider]

How about simply making the highly addictive drug illegal to use? The reason it isn't is because of the incredible hypocrisy of those who make the rules. Yaba, marijauna, mushrooms, etc all illegal because they are considered 'dangerous'. Tobacco kills scores of thousand a year -- but no problem. Hypocritical to the max. No tobacco day is a band-aid on a bullet wound.

More harm is been done to the body and lungs by inhaling "Fresh Air" from the environment in bigger cities due to the amount of carbon monoxide in the atmosphere. If you want to stop this danger walk around with a respirator around your neck.

[Rough Rider]

Hope this doesn't happen again

Karma is a real bitch.

[Rough Rider]

Hope this doesn't happen again

Karma is a really a bitch.

[tukkytuktuk]

Tomorrow every school in Thailand puts on an anti smoking show for the students to watch and rightly so. Except if you smoke and your a teacher. It's a day that some teachers who smoke call a Sicky to get away from the anti smoking histeria. I smoke and wish I could give up the habit, but nicotine is not easy to give up. Children aren't told this, all they are told is the fire makes smoke side. I found out from the internet that it is easier to quit heroin than it is to quit nicotine. A friend of mine quit smoking using an e cigarette. Now that's banned in LOS. I guess patches or nicotine gum can be purchased in Thailand but I've never seen them for sale. Any helpful information would be gratefully received. Nicotine is the killer, just one cigarette and your hooked for life.

[cpofc]

How about simply making the highly addictive drug illegal to use? The reason it isn't is because of the incredible hypocrisy of those who make the rules. Yaba, marijauna, mushrooms, etc all illegal because they are considered 'dangerous'. Tobacco kills scores of thousand a year -- but no problem. Hypocritical to the max. No tobacco day is a band-aid on a bullet wound.

Yeah because weed, shrooms and yaba are soooo hard to get. Every ban just creates a black market. Australia is about to that out the hard way with their defacto ban.

And to mark the day I am told I will no longer get a refund on my empty Winston packets. This 'promotion' which had been going for well over a year has now ceased. Not that is a lot of money, but whoever heard of getting a refund for an empty cigarette packet? Amazing Thailand!

Yes the black market is alive and well. (and has been for a long time) I just rang my mate to tell him I'll be back in Oz for a visit soon. He reckons he has already organised mine. Thanks mate!

Australia's outrageous taxes and impositions are going to have many unintended consequences. Your average, lone, late night convenience store operator will now be standing guard over a veritable gold mine. For an armed robber, stealing a mere 10 cartons of smokes will be the same as stealing $4,000, much more than they ever allow in the till at any one time. There are many parts of Melbourne where you should not wander around with a packet of smokes protruding from your top pocket, in a place where people will kill you for nothing, a packet of smokes will be a huge bonus.

The underworld will be rubbing their hands .....

[ThaiKneeTim]

Any person who refuses to wear a helmet on a motorcycle is unlikely to consider the potential health risks of smoking.

What if they wear a helmet while smoking?

Working on Thai logic that seems like an ideal compromise!

[ThaiKneeTim]

This isn't going to go down well in our neighbouring villages where tobacco is a lucrative cash crop. When we go to the market at the village down the road we pass a tobacco buyers premises and at the village nearly every property has racks of tobacco leaves out drying in the sun.

Oddly enough I've never seen any in our village, but that's probably because we're in rice central.

[tuanku]

Any person who refuses to wear a helmet on a motorcycle is unlikely to consider the potential health risks of smoking.

What if they wear a helmet while smoking?

Working on Thai logic that seems like an ideal compromise!

[connda]

How about simply making the highly addictive drug illegal to use? The reason it isn't is because of the incredible hypocrisy of those who make the rules. Yaba, marijauna, mushrooms, etc all illegal because they are considered 'dangerous'. Tobacco kills scores of thousand a year -- but no problem. Hypocritical to the max. No tobacco day is a band-aid on a bullet wound.

Yeah because weed, shrooms and yaba are soooo hard to get. Every ban just creates a black market. Australia is about to that out the hard way with their defacto ban.

Agreed. And every black market is a potential tax and private business revenue stream if the banned products are made legal. Remember alcohol prohibition (yes kiddies, it was before my time too, but I remember The Untouchables with Elliot Ness).

We never eat fruitcake because it has rum,

And one little slice turns a man to a bum.

Oh, can you imagine the sorrier sight

Of a man eating fruitcake until he gets tight?

Away, away, with rum, by gum,

Rum by gum, rum by gum

Away, away, with rum, by gum,

The song of the Temperance Union.

A ban that worked until it didn't. Now alcohol sales provides huge income streams to major corporations (think Bud) and tax revenue streams for the every hungrier federal, state, and local governments (Well Budweiser probably doesn't pay taxes, but plenty of 'sin' taxes plus sales taxes are collected from John Q. Public.)

Every excuse for banning currently 'banned' products can be used to invoke a ban of tobacco and alcohol; and conversely, every excuse to legalize banned products can, and has been used for the legalization of tobacco and alcohol.