More than 60 percent of Russians supported the initiative of the Ministry of health to ban the sale of cigarettes to those born after 2014. About it reports on Thursday, January 26, RIA Novosti reported, citing a poll by the Russian center for public opinion studies (VTSIOM).
For the ban expressed by 61 percent of respondents, including smokers themselves (from 51 to 59 per cent in different groups). Against the initiative of the Ministry of health, 36 percent of citizens, including 41% men, 44% of people aged 35-44 years, 43 percent of respondents close to retirement age and 44 percent of residents of Moscow and St. Petersburg.
“If we want a new drastic reduction in the number of smokers needed a new package of radical measures, one of which was the proposal of the Ministry of health to ban the sale of tobacco to everyone born after 2014. This proposal, despite its uniqueness, immediately received the support of more than half of Russians, including smokers themselves,” commented the survey results of the expert polls Kirill Rodin.
On 9 January it became known that the Ministry of health has prepared the “Concept of state policy on combating tobacco consumption for the years 2017-2022 and beyond”. The document was developed on behalf of the Minister Veronika Skvortsova and sent to a number of Federal agencies. The main goal of the concept is reduction by 2025 tobacco consumption among the population to 25 percent. One of them is a ban on selling cigarettes to those born in 2015 and later, even after they reach adulthood. He may begin to act in 2033.
The Ministry of Finance did not support the project concept because of disagreement with the proposed increase in excise taxes on cigarettes and additional taxes. In turn, the Ministry of justice said that the ban on the sale of cigarettes on the principle proposed by the Ministry of health, contrary to the Constitution and the Civil code.