Now that the long-awaited Tobacco Control Bill has officially been gazetted, the authorities are one step closer to placing a ban on public smoking. It should be mentioned that, due to the many harmful effects second-hand smoking has on individuals, many countries all over the world have moved, or are in the process of moving, in the direction of instituting a complete ban on public smoking.
The Word Health Organisation (WHO) has pointed out that tobacco-related illnesses are among the biggest public health threats the world faces, killing more than 7 million people a year. But tobacco use is one of the largest preventable causes of non-communicable diseases.
Health experts have agreed that action to stamp out tobacco use can help countries prevent millions of people from falling ill and dying from tobacco-related diseases, combat poverty; and, according to a first-ever WHO report, reduce large-scale environmental degradation.
Earlier this week, the WHO, on World No Tobacco Day (observed on May 30), used the opportunity to highlight how tobacco threatens the development of nations worldwide, and called on governments to implement strong tobacco control measures. These include banning marketing and advertising of tobacco, promoting plain packaging of tobacco products, raising excise taxes, and making indoor public places and workplaces smoke-free.
In Guyana, the Tobacco Control Bill prohibits by law the smoking of cigarettes and other tobacco products, such as cigars, in public places. Of note is that the legislation proposes huge fines for persons found guilty of breaking the law. For instance, persons could face a fine of up to G$20,000 each time after being caught committing the offence the first time. Offenders caught on the first occasion will be liable, on summary conviction, of G$10,000.
According to the legislation, no person shall be permitted to smoke in any waiting area or queue in a public place; including, but not limited to, any public transport stop, bus stand or bus park. Once brought into law, smoking will also be prohibited in any park, playground or amusement park; any stadium, arena, or any kind of sport or performance place; or any space for commercial service of food or drinks.
The proposed Bill makes it illegal for persons to smoke in any area within five metres of a window, door or ventilation inlet to any public place or indoor work place. Smoking shall also be prohibited anywhere on the premises of, or within five metres from, the outside boundary of any healthcare, educational or child care facility.
Of importance, too, is that the proposed legislation seeks to clamp down on advertising campaigns that have been launched by tobacco companies over the years. The Bill, as proposed, prohibits all advertising, promotion and sponsorship of tobacco products and electronic delivery systems.
Guyana has dithered too long on tobacco control laws; in the meantime, persons are dying or becoming sick. It is therefore our hope that the Bill will soon be brought to Parliament for debate — where other outstanding issues, such as raise in taxes on tobacco products, could be settled. The Government could also invite the public to make presentations via public forums.
Tobacco control represents a powerful tool in improving health in communities and in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). SDG target 3.4 is to reduce premature deaths from NCDs by one-third by 2030, including cardiovascular and chronic respiratory diseases, cancers, and diabetes.
Another SDG target, 3.a, calls for implementation of the WHO Framework Convention for Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC). The WHO FCTC entered into force in 2005, and its parties are obliged to take a number of steps to reduce demand and supply for tobacco products. Actions addressed in the Convention include protecting people from exposure to tobacco smoke; banning tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship; banning sales to minors; requiring health warnings on tobacco packaging; promoting tobacco cessation; increasing tobacco taxes; and creating a national coordinating mechanism for tobacco control.
WHO Director-General Dr Margaret Chan has noted that, by taking robust tobacco control measures, governments can safeguard their countries’ futures by protecting tobacco users and non-users from these deadly products, generating revenues to fund health and other social services, and saving their environments from the ravages tobacco causes. Stop dithering. Tobacco control laws in Guyana are long overdue.
