>> Smoking deaths on the rise in Vietnam
Despite bans, cigarette advertisements can be seen in many places and the number has not been greatly reduced.
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| Plan to reduce smoking falls short. |
Ten years ago, the prime minister’s Resolution No. 12 took effect. It set out to reduce the number of smokers nationwide by 30%. However it has decreased by only 9%.
The measure focused on smoking in the workplace. But according to the Global Adult Tobacco Survey, taken in 2010, nearly 56% of people either smoke or are exposed to second-hand smoke at work.
Outside of the workplace, the figures for those exposed to tobacco smoke are much higher. The survey indicated that as many as 73% of people above the age of 15, are exposed to second-hand smoke at home.
In other countries, taxes have been successfully used to discourage smoking. But in Vietnam, tax rates remain at around 45%. Those recommended by the World Bank are between 65% and 85%.
In the meantime, the price of tobacco has not changed much in the last decade, although incomes have.
Meeting targets
“Despite regulations, people’s awareness of the effects of smoking has yet to change. Government policies are simply not strict enough,” said Ha Thi Dung, Deputy Head of the Ministry of Education and Training’s Department of Students Affairs.
According to Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Thien Nhan, “In order to effectively reduce the number of smokers, the National Assembly must take action at the end of the year. They must take into account feasible methods that could realise their targets”.
The Ministry of Finance has been required to work with the Ministry of Health to both set up a smoking reduction fund and to create a plan to increase taxes on tobacco. While the Ministries of Information and Communication; Culture, Sports and Tourism are responsible for drafting new regulations that could enforce the ban on tobacco advertisement and promotion.
