"Georgia without Tobacco" Campaign Established on Anti-Tobacco Day

In Georgia, Anti-Tobacco Day, ‘Georgia without Tobacco,’ is celebrated annually on March 29, the aim of which is to raise public awareness about the importance of a tobacco-free environment and the real threat of tobacco consumption.

The event was organized by the Ministry of IDPs from the Occupied Territories, Labor, Health and Social Affairs of Georgia, the Parliament of Georgia, and the National Center for Disease Control and Public Health.

It is important that Anti-Tobacco Day be devoted to a variety of priority topics annually. In connection with this day in 2019, the basis for the new public movement ‘Georgia without Tobacco Smoke’ was set. The movement, which has been joined by many well-known faces, allows any citizen to promote positive changes in the country for a healthy future and to join the campaign itself.

Presentation of a tobacco component embedded in the 112 mobile application was also held, named Tobacco Control. At the launch, those interested could find out more about the tobacco control law and how to deal with violations when seen. Participants also got information about the harmful influence tobacco has on the health and how to avoid smoking.

If you see someone breaking the smoking law, you can call or message 112 using the easy mobile app. Messages will take the form of Live Chats, while, if you call, you can request to remain anonymous.

The campaign launch was attended by ministry representatives, members of the Parliament of Georgia, representatives of 112, the National Center for Disease Control and Public Health, and non-governmental organizations, and supporters of the member bodies of the Governmental Commission of Tobacco Control.

Tobacco consumption is one of the most acute and, at the same time, preventable problems in the public health sphere. The global tobacco epidemic kills around 7 million people annually, including 890,000 non-smokers who die due to secondary smoke inhalation (passive smoking). Economic-losses due to tobacco consumption show that direct healthcare costs and indirect costs (premature death and smoking-related costs at work) are 824.9 million GEL, which is 2.43% of the country's annual GDP.

Thanks to the execution of four priority articles on tobacco control (Taxation of tobacco products, Prohibition of smoking in public spaces, Advertising tobacco products, promotion and sponsorship, and Tobacco product packaging and marking), in 15 years it is foreseen that Georgia will have prevented 53,100 deaths, reducing the overall economic costs associated with tobacco by 3.6 billion GEL. By putting 1 GEL into the control of tobacco, the country will receive 161 GEL in 5 years and 357 GEL in 15 years as a reverse investment.

In 2017, Parliament adopted a package of legislative amendments to the new generation of tobacco control (Laws on Tobacco Control, Advertising, Broadcasting, Lottery, Gambling and conducting Winning Games; Code of Administrative Offenses) , with which Georgia is becoming an advanced country in the region in the fight against the tobacco epidemic, morbidity caused by its consumption and mortality rate. The results of monitoring show that the law enforcement has been running effectively since May 1, 2018 to date. The level of execution is 96% in the sector.

By Mariam Merabishvili