Cyprus-Forum.com

[Sotos]

AS the alarm bell for a smoke free Cyprus rings with an aggressive national action plan combating tobacco already streamlined, the latest scientific data reveals that Cypriots smoke about two billion cigarettes a year, with almost one in ten tobacco-related deaths on the island annually and an estimated cost of £132 million to the economy for tobacco –linked health problems, experts said this week.

The instigators of the National Tobacco Plan for Cyprus- the Nicosia-based Cyprus International Institute for The Environment and Public Health in Association with Harvard School of Public Health studying and help implement a full anti-smoking strategy on account of the government, at a news conference unveiled shocking related figures on the island’s cigarette smoking levels and their harm on human health.

The institute’s director, professor Philip Demokritou said that an estimated 13% of all deaths on the island are cigarette smoking related and that about 650 people in Cyprus die of smoking every year.

" This translates to six times more the number of road deaths in Cyprus and compares to about five air crash tragedies, like the August air crash, "Demokritou said.

As nearly all local health care costs go to cigarette smoking treatment, he noted, the state’s incurred losses amounting to £132m, as a result of low productivity levels in the labour market brought on by premature deaths and funds for medical treatment for smokers’ health problems.

According to information on smokers’ rates on the island, 25% of all 220.000 children smoking in Cyprus, Demokritou said, will end up becoming adult smokers and of these. 28,000 die prematurely of smoking-linked health problems, added Demokritou, revealing the shocking results of a scientific six-month study on the island’s smoking trends.

The study by the institute will be the basis of a national action tobacco control plan, which will, pending Cabinet and House approval will be fully implemented in about two years from now.

Demokritou stressed the need for education and increasing public awareness on the dangers of smoking, with aggressive campaigns in schools and elsewhere, to change the attitude towards smoking on the island.

"First we need to prepare the public of the risks of smoking before implementing a total smoking ban, " Demokritou explained.

Three European countries, at present. Italy. Ireland and Malta are totally smoke free in all public areas and Britain’s recent ban by the House of Commons to ban smoking in pubs, clubs and indoor places is expected to come into effect next year.

Sales in the pub cultured member states, EU statistics show, did not drop as a result of smoke ban rules but attracted more non smokers to, closed areas, like restaurants, pubs and nightclubs, where smoking is prohibited.

Harvard University Public Health Practice professor Greg Conolly who also lectured on the serious health dangers of smoking and the institute’s National Tobacco Control Plan for Cyprus in Larnaca, told newsmen the island’ national anti-smoking campaign would focus on, preventing young people to start the habbit, helping adults give in up and protecting non-smokers and passive smokers who are subject to equal risks.

Based on his experience on tobacco control in the US, Connolly noted the need to work closely in the plan with schools and companies to ensure they were smoke free, along with aggressive campaigns through the media, which can play a key role in the island’s battle against killing cigarette smoking, from which only multinational cigarette manufacturing organizations profit.

Referring to cigarette smoking Conolly said:
"Smoking is an addiction pushed by the tobacco industry but together we can make smoking history in Cyprus, ‘ Conolly told reporters.

Health Minister Andreas Gavrielides, pledging the government’s full support for the institute National Tobacco Control Plan for Cyprus said that smoking in member states is estimated to be responsible for 2m deaths by 2020.

About 38 % of men AND 10% of women in Cyprus are smokers, said Gavrielides, noting increasing trends in smoking amid young people and socioeconomically low-groups on the island.

Referring to the various stop-smoking clinics on the island, the Minister stressed the institute’s series of anti-smoking training sessions for health professionals, in operation since last year.

[Agios Amvrosios]

Smoking should be taxed alot more heavily in Cyprus. From my understanding smokes are under taxed in Cyprus so CYprus is in the top five countries for tabacco addictions per capita.

The cost of tobacco related disease, to the health system alone would be in the millions .

[Leonidas]

Smoking should be taxed alot more heavily in Cyprus. From my understanding smokes are under taxed in Cyprus so CYprus is in the top five countries for tabacco addictions per capita.

The cost of tobacco related disease, to the health system alone would be in the millions .

Cyprus is the only place I ve been that there is a smoking table next to a non smoking one.
In most states one can not even smoke in restaurants and here not even in bars.
Which is good because I forces me not to smoke as much.

[Olga]

I don't smoke and never did (never even had a desire to smoke).
Moreover, I cannot stand the smell and smoke , cannot breathe, even if the smoker is not very close to me.
Because of this I cannot stay at public places for a long time, probably I would die otherwise ; no matter in which area, smoking or non-smoking, anyway I can feel it

[GIz33k0]

Never have and never will. Passive smokers should be rid of and locked up, i know someone who died because of the issue of passive smoking so i take absolutely no chances whatsoever.

[Sotos]

Passive smokers should be rid of and locked up

Are you sure this is what you wanted to say??

[GIz33k0]

Well let me re phrase that... smokers shudnt smoke around others and it should be made ILLEGAL like tony blair was going too, to smoke in public places.

[Leonidas]

In some states in the US no one can smoke even outside some public areas, especially hospitals.

And definetly there is no question that second hand smoke is dangerous.

[Rickers]

I agree completely -- when we visit Cyprus every year, I put up with the smoking because it is part of the culture of the nation, but I personally believe that clean air is a birthright, not a privelege, and I am very happy that here in Scotland the new law comes into force on March 26th which outlaws smoking in ALL enclosed public spaces ( bars, hotels, nightclubs, airports, railway stations, shopping malls etc., etc.)

This fact aside, I would still rather relocate to Cyprus and avoid smoky places !!

[andri_cy]

I do nost smoke. My father used to and he died of lung cancer. I could never breather right and stand smoke when I lived with my parents but my dad made the non smokers go outside when he smoked instead of going outside himself.
I have wanted to relocate to Cyprus, because I have been homesick lately, but everyone of my family and friends make it sound like its not as nice there as it used to be 6 years ago when I left anymore....