South Africa: SA Set for New Smoking Laws

Source from:  iafrica.com  01/10/2013

Smokers will find it more difficult to get their daily fix with new tobacco regulations that won't allow cigarettes to be displayed in shops.

ANC delegates voted for stricter anti-smoking laws during the party's elective conference in Mangaung in December.

Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi said that he would this week sign a protocol in Geneva that would force the South African government to ensure there were no cigarettes on display in shops.

"Cigarettes must not be displayed in stores. They must be hidden somewhere," he said.

Motsoaledi added that a national law to ban alcohol advertising was also expected to be passed this year.

The minister said he would target alcohol and tobacco advertising to make the products less attractive for users.

He said companies spent outrageous amounts on advertising during 2012.

"Three alcohol companies are spending R1-billion per annum just on advertising."

He said that if the abuse of alcohol and tobacco was not dealt with, there would be an increase in lifestyle diseases, which would make the planned National Health Insurance (NHI) too expensive. Enditem