Scientific evidence shows that larger graphic pictorial warnings and plain packaging of tobacco products are cost-effective public health interventions. Cambodia needs to urgently increase the size of pictorialwarnings and move towards plain packaging.
Despite ban on e-cigarettes, industries are addicting many
There is no safe level of tobacco and alcohol use, as per the WHO. Whether it is e-cigarettes or other forms of electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS), if they contain tobacco, they need to be regulated like other tobacco products.
Cambodia bans the sale and use of e-cigarettes etc. but it needs stronger laws and policies to effectively ban all forms of advertising, promotion and sponsorship of all such products (like e-cigarettes or heated tobacco products etc.) that are escaping through the net of tobacco control laws, and devastating lives of children and youth.
While people are suffering the onslaught of tobacco products, industries are reaping rich profits. In 2019, e-cigarettes were sold in six Southeast Asian markets with a total market value of US$ 595 million, which is projected to grow to US$ 766 million by the end of 2023. The global e-cigarette market has proliferated from around US$ 50 million in 2005 to over 20 billion in 2019, and is expected to grow to US$34 billion by 2024.
Goal to end tobacco is a vital cog-in-the-wheel to accelerate progress towards SDGs
"Tobacco costs lives, causes economic losses, contributes toenvironmental degradation, and poses significant threats to sustainable development," said Dr Bam.
Over 16,000 people die of tobacco use every year in Cambodia - one-third of whom are among the poorest. Each of these deaths could have been prevented if #endTobacco had become a reality earlier. But the tobacco industry continues to aggressively and deceptively expand its market, causing an epidemic of tobacco-caused killer diseases.
(Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher).
