Suchergebnisse

The bulk of the world's tobacco is produced in low- and middle-income countries. In order to dissuade these countries from implementing policies aimed at curbing tobacco consumption (such as increased taxes, health warnings, advertising bans and smoke-free environments), the tobacco industry claims that tobacco farmers will be negatively affected and that no viable, sustainable alternatives exist. This book, based on original research from three continents, exposes the myths behind these claims

Intro -- Foreword -- Introduction -- Chronology -- 1. Smoking Is Not a Constitutional Right -- 2. The Food and Drug Administration Cannot Regulate the Tobacco Industry -- 3. Raising the Minimum Age to Purchase Tobacco to Twenty-One Would Be Beneficial -- 4. Enforcing Laws Prohibiting Cigarette Sales to Minors Prevents Youth Smoking -- 5. Teens Should Be Able to Smoke -- 6. Numerous Factors Influence Teens to Smoke -- 7. A Teen Discusses Why She Thinks Her Peers Smoke -- 8. Tobacco Advertising Has Targeted Youths -- 9. Targeting Youths by Tobacco Companies Shouldm Be Banned -- 10. Banning Tobacco Ads Infringes the Freedom of Speech -- 11. Government-Mandated Bans and Ordinances Against Smoking Apply to All Public Places -- 12. Government-Mandated Bans on Smoking Are Not Justified -- 13. Banning Smoking on College Campuses Benefits Student Health -- 14. A High School Designated Smoking Area Causes Controversy -- 15. A Teen Discusses How Smoking Caused Her Brother Harm -- 16. Authorizing the Food and Drug Administration to Regulate the Tobacco Industry Is Problematic -- Organizations to Contact -- For Further Reading -- Index

Montenegro became a Party to the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control in 2006 and ratified the Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products in 2017. Tobacco excise hikes, undertaken in Montenegro in 2009-2011, were successful both in fiscal and public health terms. Revenues from tobacco excises rose from about 4 million in 2007 to 44 million euro in 2011. Annual cigarette sales declined from more than 1.5 billion cigarettes in 2008-2011 to less than 1 billion cigarettes in 2014 and further years. However, in 2013-2016, tobacco excise increases were too small to reduce tobacco affordability and tobacco sales, and tobacco revenues did not change much. In August 2017, Montenegro adopted an ambitious plan of excise tax increases; however, the tobacco industry responded with series of hidden actions (forestalling and price over-shifting) which temporarily reduced tobacco excise revenue in early 2018. As the next high increase of excise rate was scheduled for January 2018, and at the same time, VAT rate increased from 19 to 21, the industry substantially increased cigarette supply in the second half of 2017 and sharply reduced it in early 2018 as it already had in stocks large numbers of cigarettes for which excise was paid in 2017. The excise revenue substantially increased in late 2017, but declined in early 2018 despite the excise rate increase. The industry organized the media campaign to persuade the government that this revenue decline was allegedly caused by tax-driven growth in cigarette smuggling (while no rigorous evidence of such growth was presented), and the only way to fight smuggling is the reduction of cigarette excise. From September 2018, the excise rates were reduced, while they are still higher than those planned before 2017. The plan of annual tobacco excise changes until 2025 was already adopted by authorities, but the proposed changes have rather low potential to reduce the tobacco consumption and to increase government revenue. The expected total excise rate in 2025 will be below 90 euro (minimum EU level). Montenegro is able to conduct a more aggressive and successful tobacco taxation policy which can both reduce tobacco consumption and increase tobacco revenue.