Smokers will pay vice tax

The smokers in Moldova will pay a vice tax. The initiative forms part of the National Tobacco Control Program for 2011-2016 that is to be approved by the Government in its next meeting, Info-Prim Neo reports. Minister of Health Andrei Usatyi spoke about the program in a regional workshop of the World Health Organziation that is held in Chisinau between November 15 and 18. The size of the tax has not been yet decided. It is not yet known how it will be used. Under the program, the excises on tobacco products will rise annually up to 60%. Now they represent 30%. The program envisions banning the advertisements for cigarettes and the smoking in public places. The persons under 18 will not be able to purchase tobacco products. “We are sure that the Government will approve the program,” said the minister. According to Andrei Usatyi, it will be very hard to create smoke-free places. “We will start with the education and medical institutions and will gradually get to the governmental institutions. The number of smokers in Moldova is too high. Policies should be implemented to reduce this number. Counseling services for those who want to give up smocking will be instituted under the family doctors centers in all the country’s settlements until next year,” said the minister. Each second man in Moldova is a smoker. The women represent 7.1% of the smokers. About 1 billion lei is spent yearly on the treatment of diseases caused by smoking.