Serbia to mark World No Tobacco Day

Today is World No Tobacco Day, marked every year around the globe on May 31. According to statistics, almost one in two men and one in three women smoke in Serbia. Serbia to mark World No Tobacco Day In 1974 and 1978, a committee of WHO experts published a report on the harmful effects of smoking on health, in which the organization’s task was not only to look into the most important evidence on the harmful effects of tobacco, but also into countries’ attempts to tackle the problem, and to formulate strategic guidelines such as restrictive measures and any other steps that could help responsible governments tackle the problem. Research has shown that one in every two Serbian males and one in every three females smoke, while results of a global study into tobacco use by young people show that an exceptionally high percentage of schoolchildren (smokers and non-smokers alike) in Serbia are exposed to smoke at home and in public places. According to the research, over 54.7 percent of schoolchildren in Serbia between the ages of 13 and 15 have tried smoking, 16.3 percent smoke on a regular basis, while almost a third tried their first cigarette before the age of 10. Health care services play a big part in preventing youngsters pick up the habit, because in many countries health workers have had to give up smoking themselves. In Serbia, much emphasis is placed on legal regulations intended to fight the habit, while at the same time, losing sight of the fact that these regulations have their limits linked to the interests of society in terms of revenue from the manufacture and sale of tobacco.

Serbia to mark World No Tobacco Day

In 1974 and 1978, a committee of WHO experts published a report on the harmful effects of smoking on health, in which the organization’s task was not only to look into the most important evidence on the harmful effects of tobacco, but also into countries’ attempts to tackle the problem, and to formulate strategic guidelines such as restrictive measures and any other steps that could help responsible governments tackle the problem.

Research has shown that one in every two Serbian males and one in every three females smoke, while results of a global study into tobacco use by young people show that an exceptionally high percentage of schoolchildren (smokers and non-smokers alike) in Serbia are exposed to smoke at home and in public places.

According to the research, over 54.7 percent of schoolchildren in Serbia between the ages of 13 and 15 have tried smoking, 16.3 percent smoke on a regular basis, while almost a third tried their first cigarette before the age of 10.

Health care services play a big part in preventing youngsters pick up the habit, because in many countries health workers have had to give up smoking themselves.

In Serbia, much emphasis is placed on legal regulations intended to fight the habit, while at the same time, losing sight of the fact that these regulations have their limits linked to the interests of society in terms of revenue from the manufacture and sale of tobacco.