Health ministry: Nearly 50 percent of Serbians smoke

Health ministry: Nearly 50 percent of Serbians smoke

Dragan Ilic, Director of the Public Health Institute of Serbia Dr. Milan Jovanovic Batut, said that relevant results of a health survey published last year indicate that nearly 35 pct of Serbia's adult population, as well as 13 percent of young teens (aged 13 to 15), are smokers.

More than 55 pct of Serbians are exposed to environmental tobacco smoke, and 63.4 pct of school-age children are exposed to tobacco smoke in their own home, said Ilic, opening an exhibition at the Student Cultural Center (SKC) in Belgrade.

Head of the National Tobacco Prevention Committee Srmena Krstev said that the Serbian Law on Protection of the Population from Exposure to Tobacco Smoke allows smoking in bars and restaurants, adding that she expects the Health Ministry to initiate changes to the law that would remove this exception.

The National No Tobacco Day was marked in Serbia on Friday with an exhibition of students' artworks with anti-smoking messages.