Tobacco Control Law Appears Effective Following First 10 Months of Implementation

The execution of the Tobacco Control Law is successfully ongoing in Georgia, with results recognized both in the legislative body and the executive authority. Society seems to have adapted and tobacco consumption has reduced.

According to the National Center for Disease Control and Public Health, there are very high morbidity and mortality rates of non-infectious diseases in Georgia, with tobacco the main risk factor for these diseases, and that is why it is so important to see the effective and complete implementation of tobacco legislation nowadays.

Today, for the world’s 1.1 billion smokers, tobacco consumption represents one of the leading causes of death. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), over 7 million people die every year worldwide as a result of smoking. In six seconds, on average, one person dies from causes related to tobacco consumption. Of the eight major causes of death, six are associated with tobacco consumption. Globally, 40% of smokers are males and 9% women. In the 20th century, tobacco caused 100 million deaths. In the 21st century, with the current trend, 1 billion people will die as a result of tobacco consumption.

"Tobacco is an important risk factor for coronary heart disease, infarction and peripheral vascular disease, cancer, lung chronic obstructive disease and diabetes,” says Amiran Gamkrelidze, Head of the National Center for Disease Control and Public Health. “In addition, cardiovascular diseases are the number one killer in Georgia as well as worldwide. These diseases are associated with about 60% of deaths worldwide, 85% in Europe and 94% in Georgia. The Law on Tobacco Control, which was adopted in 2017 and entered into force on May 1, 2018, is one of the most effective steps towards protecting the health and lives of our citizens. I think the execution of the Tobacco Control Law after 10 months is going well. Fortunately, society understood”.

On May 17, 2017, the Parliament of Georgia confirmed the amendments to the Law on Tobacco Control and on July 26 of last year, adopted the new edition of this Law. Tobacco Control Law in Georgia was launched on May 1, 2018, under which smoking is prohibited in buildings, public transport, educational establishments, cafes and bars, with exceptions. It became mandatory to place the rules connected to prohibition / restriction of smoking tobacco at all entrances and other visible places of a building’s territory, with the relevant message and a sign on the ban on tobacco smoking.

By Mariam Merabishvili