Smoking threatens Thailand’s sustainability, says health foundation

By The Nation

 

 

Smoking costs Thailand nearly Bt75 billion a year, according to an estimate released by the Thai Health Promotion Foundation on Monday.

 

“The figures are equivalent to 0.78 per cent of the country’s gross domestic products,” the foundation’s deputy manager Dr Bundit Sornpaisarn said. 

 

He said cigarettes therefore posed a threat to sustainability. 

 

“Smoking has also threatened the future of youth,” Bundit added. 

 

A 2014 survey found 547 Thai youths started smoking every day, and young smokers had a higher chance of getting involved in other unhealthy habits such as drinking, drug abuse, late-night entertainment and gambling. 

 

Disease Control Department’s deputy director general Dr Suthep Petchmark said Thailand had developed various innovative tools to control the use of tobacco. 

“We have ratified the World Health Organisation – Framework Convention on Tobacco Control,” he said.

 

He pointed out that the Tobacco Control Act 2017 had already taken effect in Thailand on July 4. 

 

The law has introduced additional measures to protect non-smokers' rights and to try and prevent youths from taking up the habit.

 

Key measures in the law include a ban on selling tobacco products to people aged under 20, and a ban on people aged under 18 selling tobacco products. 

 

The measures also include a ban of selling tobacco products at religious sites, hospitals and pharmacies, all educational institutes, and public parks, zoos and amusement parks. 

 

There is also a ban on all forms of tobacco advertising and marketing, and on tobacco businesses conducting corporate social responsibility activities.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/national/30321672

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2017-7-24

While talking about bans we shouldn't forget the ban on E-Cigarettes as well.

 

They banned the very devices that people use to help them quit or simply replace cigarettes.

 

I read about another country which also banned them then reversed that decision, the UK government backed by the medical establishment encourages E-Cig usage....

Edited July 24, 20178 yr by ukrules

I wouldn't mind betting that the crappy instant food they have fallen in love with over the last decade or so, will cost them a whole lot more than the ciggies.

How exactly is it costing them money? They tax the hell out of cigarettes in this country and others.. 

Can't ban smoking, motorbike riders would have to have two hands on the handlebars then.

15 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

He said cigarettes therefore posed a threat to sustainability... 

Good to know massively polluting the oceans, and rivers and raping the environment does not.

The two prongs of eradication are punitively high and growing taxation and education. But measures have to be in place to deal with smuggling, and education is never a strong point here. The government tobacco monopoly doesn't help because a lot of rich people become even richer as a result. Plus it's mainly poor people who smoke and nobody in power cares about them.

15 hours ago, cmsally said:

I wouldn't mind betting that the crappy instant food they have fallen in love with over the last decade or so, will cost them a whole lot more than the ciggies.

If you read the contents aloud, it sounds like a chemical formula.

What?

It is a chemical formula.

A 2014 survey found . . . young smokers had a higher chance of getting involved in other unhealthy habits such as drinking, drug abuse, late-night entertainment and gambling.

 

Yeah, but. . . 

 

They forgot sex and violence. 

 

Seriously, don't you just love the way "facts" like these totally-unsupported (at least by evidence in the article) allegations about the links between smoking and various other undesirable activities are routinely trotted out by so-called "experts".

 

Yes, smoking is a pretty unpleasant addiction with many health and social consequences, but silly OTT propaganda like this is enough to antagonise even non-smokers like me.

 

 

Edited July 25, 20178 yr by Krataiboy

In the meantime,in another news story, Yaba has just dropped to 35thb a hit.....sure smoking doesn't do any good except earning tax revenue and making the producers rich. But the same can be said about fast food,excessive amounts of som-tam,motorbikes,cheap alcohol etc. etc.....shouldn't we have the freedom to decide over our own bodies,in the end we pay for it through taxes and shorter lifespan.....

"The law has introduced additional measures to protect non-smokers' rights..."

 

Lots of laws in the LOS, but never a mechanism implemented to enforce them. This is just another empty PR campaign as the tobacco monopoly continues to reap in billions in profits.

 

"Will you please put out your cigarette? It's interfering with my breathing, and is against the law for you to smoke here."

"<Deleted> Off". End of conversation. No fines. No arrests.

Edited July 25, 20178 yr by jaltsc

I'm just glad they banned ecigs.  

I much prefer the disgusting stink of all the 2nd hand smoke instead of a nice fruit smell that is also far less harmful. 

 

Good job on the government banning these things and forcing people to choose far more unhealthier smoke cigarettes. 

 

Ruin everyone's health (smokers and 2nd smokers) just so the billionaires Thailand tobacco monopoly doesn't lose any money. 

 

Plus we all know how thais and Thailand hate outside influence to improve life's

"There is also a ban on all forms of tobacco advertising and marketing, and on tobacco businesses conducting corporate social responsibility activities."

 

That's the problem - Sweep it under the carpet, but it doesn't go away.

 

One of my school friends' father caught him smoking one day.  He didn't attend school for a couple of days.  When he appeared, he explained that his father sat him down and produced a packet of Benson & Hedges.  He then made my friend smoke every one of them, until he puked-up, several times.  He never smoked again.

 

I don't think that will happen here; most Thai parents don't spend that much time with their kids.

What is "sustainability" other than a buzz word.  It makes no sense in this context.  Past the misuse of the word, ban them.  Pot, kratom, poppies, and mushrooms are banned.  Tobacco is simply a vile, highly addictive product with no redeeming qualities.  Not even a buzz.  Yeah!  Ban it.  Make an inroad Thailand: Be the First!

 

Edited July 25, 20178 yr by connda

late night entertainment = an unhealthy habit

2 hours ago, Moti24 said:

"There is also a ban on all forms of tobacco advertising and marketing, and on tobacco businesses conducting corporate social responsibility activities."

 

That's the problem - Sweep it under the carpet, but it doesn't go away.

 

One of my school friends' father caught him smoking one day.  He didn't attend school for a couple of days.  When he appeared, he explained that his father sat him down and produced a packet of Benson & Hedges.  He then made my friend smoke every one of them, until he puked-up, several times.  He never smoked again.

 

I don't think that will happen here; most Thai parents don't spend that much time with their kids.

I think your friend was watching too much Donald Duck.

So are they going to reverse the ban on e-cigs then any time soon??

18 minutes ago, leeroy221 said:

So are they going to reverse the ban on e-cigs then any time soon??

 

Of course not, however logic dictates that they should also move to ban cigarettes if they continue in this direction.

 

There is no reason to allow the production, importation and sale of cigarettes while banning relatively harmless 'vape' alternatives.

 

Unless of course it's all about the money. We know they make more money on tax than it costs the country and this is what it's all about - protecting that money. They don't give a shit about the people, health or anything else : only the cash !

Edited July 25, 20178 yr by ukrules

22 hours ago, jossthaifarang said:

How exactly is it costing them money? They tax the hell out of cigarettes in this country and others.. 

Apparently not taxing enough.