The Ministry of Health proposes to tighten anti-tobacco laws by banning the sale of cigarettes to the new generation

In Russia they want to tighten anti-smoking laws. The “New People” faction launched a corresponding initiative.

The document prepared by this faction proposes to ban the sale of tobacco products and nicotine-containing products and devices for consumption and hookah to people born after December 31, 2009, Kommersant writes.

After getting acquainted with this initiative, the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation sent the draft document to the relevant authorities, proposed its completion, revised some contents and accepted it.

At the same time, the Ministry believes that the project is consistent with the profile strategy until 2035, which is designed to reduce the consumption of tobacco products and gradually eliminate their withdrawal from domestic circulation.

Meanwhile, efforts to introduce new restrictions on tobacco sales have been made before by other countries. For example, in Australia, Denmark, Hong Kong, Singapore, Ireland. So far the efforts have been unsuccessful.

In Russia, problems could also arise with the introduction of new regulations, experts say. So, analyst Alexander Anfinogenov recalls that today the vaping market reaches almost 200 billion rubles per year. And almost no one wants to lose that money.

“This is a significant amount of money over which serious disputes will arise. Lobbying schemes, conflicts and corruption cannot be ruled out – all methods are characteristic of the anti-social segment of the market,” the expert emphasized.

A similar opinion is shared by statesman, politician and epidemiologist, deputy of the 7th State Duma, and member of the United Russia faction Gennady Onishchenko.

He was confident that the tobacco mafia, which reaped huge profits from sales, would rebel against this initiative. At the same time, they will find methods to influence the process of passing laws not only domestically but also abroad, he noted, expressing hope that all this will not hinder the passage of laws .