<<Print>>

The Food and Drugs Authority (FDA), has given indications that it would arrest and prosecute persons who smoke publicly, as well as managers of the public places, who refuse to prevent the practice of public smoking at their facilities, in its effort to prevent tobacco-related illnesses, including cancer. The arrests according to the FDA, would be followed by criminal prosecution, under Part Six of the Public Health Act 2012, which prescribes punishment of a severe fine or imprisonment to those found culpable. This means Ghana, has joined countries such as; Russia, United States of America (USA),China, Ireland, Italy, India and many others, where severe punishments is imposed on public smokers, and has resulted in a drastic reduction in smoking-related illnesses. The FDA, mentioned public places as factories, offices, restaurants, pubs, places where children are cared for, health and educational institutions, cinemas, shopping malls, markets, recreational areas -both open and closed- stadiums, public transport vehicles, transport terminals and places of collective human use. The move, according to a press statement signed by the Chief Executive of the FDA, Dr. Stephen Opuni, �is to ensure that non-smokers are protected from the tobacco smoke from smokers considering the overwhelming evidence of the harmful effects of breathing tobacco smoke�. The statement said �Tobacco smoke is known scientifically to contain over 7000 chemicals, seventy of which causes cancer, and affects all parts of the human body. Those who inhale the smoke are expose to all these chemicals and are at risk of the adverse health consequences of these chemicals�, adding �Part Six of the Public Health Act 2012 was enacted to protect the public against the harmful effects of tobacco�. Section 58 of the Public Health Act, 2012, Act 851, states that �A person shall not smoke tobacco or a tobacco product or hold a lighted tobacco product in an enclosed or indoor area of a work place, or any other public place except in a designated area� �The Act further mentioned the public place to include but not limited to the following places: All workplaces: factories, offices, restaurants, pubs, places where children are cared for, health and educational institutions, cinemas, shopping malls , markets, recreational areas (both open and closed), stadiums, public transport vehicles, transport terminals and places of collective use �Additionally, the general public is to note that second hand smokers are predisposed to all the harmful effects of tobacco use, which includes heart diseases, lung cancer, sudden infant death syndrome, acute respiratory tract infections, severe asthma attack in children and many other diseases�. �All persons in-charge of places where smoking is prohibited are required to post signs that clearly indicate that the establishment is a �no smoking� area. All persons who do not comply with this legal requirement will attract sanctions including fines and/or imprisonment�, it said. The general public is further advised not to hesitate to report to the FDA any person or facility found flouting this directive through any of the following numbers 0244612573, 0208204968, 0244571563, 0246809509 or 0244337235 or may report to the police. Meanwhile, The Herald�s findings have revealed that in countries such as Russia, the world�s third largest tobacco market has officially banned public smoking. As of June 1, this year, Russians are no longer allowed to light up on public transportation, at airports and train stations, and inside schools and hospitals, among other public spots. Cigarette adverts would also vanish from streets, and smoking won�t be featured in Russian-made movies and cartoons (sorry, Gena the pipe-smoking crocodile). The ban is the country�s most comprehensive effort yet to encourage daily smokers � more than half of men and about one-sixth of women, according to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development � to kick the habit and prevent about 200,000 deaths each year. But would it actually work? Here�s how similar efforts have played out in other developed nations. Ireland Ireland became the first nation to institute a countrywide workplace-smoking ban in 2004. The new regulation built onto the 1988 sanctions against cigarette smoking in many public buildings and on public transportation (save for smoking-permitted carriages). In 2005, researchers recorded a 17 per cent drop in respiratory issues and found that 80 per cent of those surveyed didn�t just say the ban encouraged them to quit; 88 per cent said it kept them smoke-free. Prosmoking lobbyists still take issues with the initiatives fueled by Health Minister James Reilly, who revealed that his father and brother died from smoking-related illnesses and who is cracking down on package marketing, but his policies appear effective. New research on the effect of the 2004 legislation found that double-digit drops in heart diseases and strokes and that cleaner air had prevented 3,700 deaths. China Its first efforts came in May 2006, when officials announced that the Beijing Olympics would be smoke-free � specifically hospitals used for the games and public transportation. In May 2011, the government pushed to puff out cigarette smoking at all indoor public venues. More than two years later, the consensus was that it didn�t really work. But it was a tall order to begin with: More than one-third of the world�s smokers are Chinese � in 2012, the average citizen smoked 30 per cent more than in 1990 � and 1 million of them die each year from related diseases. Previous efforts were derailed, due to patchy enforcement, as the government body in charge of carrying out national antismoking laws was also running the world�s largest cigarette maker. Jay Chittooran, a research Associate at the Council on Foreign Relations, suggested in March that, China could boost tobacco abstinence for students, resolve the aforementioned conflict of interest and raise prices. So far, aside from forbidding vending machines from selling cigarettes and prominently displaying no-smoking signs, the habit remains firmly entrenched in China and evidence of it is ubiquitous. Italy Lawmakers introduced an extensive smoking ban in January 2005, that prohibited the act in all indoor public places. The measure wasn�t welcomed by bar owners, who claimed that smoking is ingrained in their culture and who faced a $2,600 fine for failing to make sure their customers didn�t smoke. Despite it being legal to cordon off certain smoke-if-you-want areas, they decried the expense for automatic doors and ventilation systems. Nationwide health improved though, as researchers in Rome later found that cigarette sales slowed by 5.5 per cent. Smoking frequency among men dropped more than 4 per cent and the number of heart attacks significantly decreased. Italians could still partake outdoors, but in August 2011, one mayor near Venice took it one step further by experimenting with a beach ban, even if he couldn�t punish offenders. India Legislation to ban smoking was passed in 2003, but the guidelines weren�t solidified until Oct. 2, 2008, the birthday of nonsmoker Mohandas Gandhi. At the time, India was home to 120 million smokers � 900,000 of which were dying each year from tobacco-related illnesses � and earlier efforts to curb the habit had proved ineffective. Enforcement and antismoking advocacy were crucial, yet lawbreakers faced a mere $4.50 fine. Researchers say the new regulation that outlawed workplace smoking has led to more smoke-free homes and that most people supported warnings during Bollywood smoking scenes. But nearly five years later, violations are rampant. The Times of India recently suggested that more pointed awareness campaigns and stricter monitoring would lead to more positive results. U.S. In the US it�s up to local and state authorities. To date, 48 per cent of the population is banned from smoking indoors at public venues, like offices, restaurants and bars; outliers like casinos in New Orleans have been slower to give in. Advocacy campaigns and antismoking legislation have dramatically reduced hospitalizations for tobacco-related diseases, researchers say, but some activists are pushing for outdoors bans as well. George Washington University pledged to not only go smoke-free this fall, but also is planning to ban smoking within 25 ft. of all university-owned public spaces. In late May, Starbucks announced a similar measure for thousands of its caf�s. TOBACCO-RELATED CANCERS FACT SHEET � Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in the United States for both men and women. (Source: Cancer Facts & Figures 2013) � Lung cancer is the most preventable form of cancer death in our society. (Source: Cancer Facts & Figures 2013) � Lung cancer estimates for 2013 (Source: Cancer Facts & Figures 2013): � New cases of lung cancer: 228,190 Males: 118,080 Females: 110,110 � Deaths from lung cancer: 159,480 Males: 87,260 Females: 72,220 � Besides lung cancer, tobacco use also increases the risk for cancers of the mouth, lips, nasal cavity (nose) and sinuses, larynx (voice box), pharynx (throat), esophagus (swallowing tube), stomach, pancreas, kidney, bladder, uterus, cervix, colon/rectum, ovary (mucinous), and acute myeloid leukemia. (Source: Cancer Facts & Figures 2013) � In the United States, tobacco use is responsible for nearly 1 in 5 deaths; this equals about 443,000 early deaths each year. (Source: Cancer Facts & Figures 2013) � Tobacco use accounts for at least 30% of all cancer deaths and 87% of lung cancer deaths. (Source: Cancer Facts & Figures 2013) � Cigarette use has declined dramatically since the release of the first US Surgeon General�s Report on Smoking and Health in 1964. Even so, about 21.6% of men and 16.5% of women still smoked cigarettes in 2011, with about 78% of these people smoking daily. (Source: Current cigarette smoking among adults � United States, 2011) � Cigarette smoking among adults age 18 and older who smoked 30 cigarettes or more a day went down significantly from 2005 to 2011 � from 12.6% to 9.1%. But the number of adults who smoke 1 to 9 cigarettes a day went up during this same time � from 16.4% to 22%. And still, nearly 44 million American adults smoke. (Source: Current cigarette smoking among adults � United States, 2011) � Cigars contain many of the same carcinogens (cancer-causing substances) found in cigarettes. Between 1997 and 2007, sales of little cigars had increased by 240%, while large cigar sales decreased by 6%. Cigar smoking causes cancers of the lung, mouth, throat, larynx (voice box), esophagus (swallowing tube), and probably the pancreas. (Source: Cancer Facts & Figures 2013) � Little cigars are about the same size and shape as cigarettes, come in packs of 20, but unlike cigarettes, they can be candy or fruit flavored. In most states, they cost much less than cigarettes, making them affordable to youth. A 2011 CDC survey found that about 24% of 12th grade boys and about 10% of the 12th grade girls had smoked cigars in the past 30 days. (Sources: Cancer Facts & Figures 2011;CDC Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance � United States, 2011) � In 1997, nearly half (48%) of male high school students and more than one-third (36%) of female students reported using some form of tobacco � cigarettes, cigars, or smokeless tobacco products � in the past month. The percentages went down to 28% for male students and 18% for female students in 2011. But among 12th graders, 37% of the boys and 25% of the girls had used tobacco in the past month. (Sources: Cancer Facts & Figures 2010; CDC Current Tobacco Use Among Middle and High School Students � United States, 2011; CDC Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance � United States, 2011) � Each year, about 3,400 non-smoking adults die of lung cancer as a result of breathing secondhand smoke. Each year secondhand smoke also causes about 46,000 deaths from heart disease in people who are not current smokers. (Source: Cancer Facts & Figures 2013) � Among adults age 18 and older, national data from 2010 showed 5% of men and less than 1% of women were current users of smokeless tobacco. Nationwide, about 13% of US male high school students and more than 2% of female high school students were using chewing tobacco, snuff, or dip in 2011. (Sources: Cancer Facts & Figures 2012;CDC Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance � United States, 2011) � Smokeless tobacco products are a major source of cancer-causing nitrosamines and a known cause of human cancer. They increase the risk of developing cancer of the mouth and throat, esophagus (swallowing tube), and pancreas. (Source: CancerPrevention & Early Detection Facts and Figures 2010) � Smokeless tobacco products are less lethal but are not a safe alternative to smoking. Using smokeless tobacco can lead to nicotine addiction. Use of tobacco in any form harms health. (Source: CancerPrevention & Early Detection Facts and Figures 2010) � Between 2000 and 2004, smoking caused more than $193 billion in annual health-related costs in the United States, including smoking-attributable medical costs and productivity losses. (Source: Cancer Facts & Figures 2013)