Armenia in the 2nd Place in CIS after Russia by the Number of Smokers

YEREVAN, MAY 31, ARMENPRESS: Today is the International Day of Fighting against the Cigarette. Chairman of “Sociometer” center Aharon Adibekyan said today at a meeting with journalists that the RA law on fighting against the cigarette restricts and prohibits smoking in public places, but very often the law is trespassed in our every day life.

According to him, drivers of the public transport smoke just in mini-buses, doctors smoke in healthcare institutions, and sometimes even pupils - just in schools. According to the statistical data of the last two years, in Armenia the 55 % of men over 18 and the 1-2% of women smoke. The Republic of Armenia is in the second place after Russia by the number of smokers. Today the number of smokers throughout the world reaches about to 2 billion, and the leader is China, where the number of smokers exceeds the 300 million.

A. Adibekyan said that in Armenia 2-3 thousand people die annually from deceases originated as a result of smoking, and about 5 million - in the world. According to A. Adibekyan, as a result of the classes conducted from the last year in working places, schools, in educational and healthcare spheres within the frameworks of the Anti-cigarette Research Program, many parents have given up smoking with the claim of the children. And thanks to the lectures conducted in institutions, in bars and restaurants, the number of the smokers has been reduced.

A. Adibekyan noted that for purpose of improving the health and of promoting the healthy lifestyle the alliance of “Armenia without Cigarette” comprised of 31 member organizations operates. The institution has made its outstanding contribution to adopting of the convention of the World Health Organization on “Fighting against the Cigarette” in the RA National Assembly, to ratification of the RA law on “Limitations of Realization, Consumption and Use of the Cigarette”. With the active support of the alliance, from 2008 the RA government has proclaimed October 12 as a national day of fighting against the cigarette.

According to Chairman of Consumers’ Union A. Poghosyan, currently fines have been defined for those who will use the cigarette in prohibited zones, which is more efficient than the drugs against smoking. “Though smoking activates the work of the brain, weakens the strained nerves, makes more tolerant, it simultaneously harms the health and results in incurable deceases. None of the over 90 ingredients contained in the cigarette smog is useful for the health. The issue requires a systemic solution. Smokers should walk more, occupy themselves in sports, which will help to give up smoking,” A. Poghosyan said.