The children and young people permanently have access to tobacco products given that these are placed visibly in retail units. The fact that the restrictions on the sale of these products are only partial enable the tobacco industry to profit from the exceptions provided by the legislation, redirecting the resources to areas that are not regulated, say authors of a study entitled “Sale of tobacco products in retail outlets in the perimeter of primary and secondary schools in Chisinau and Balti municipality”. This was presented in a news conference at IPN.
Valeria Turcan, vice president of the Association of Medical Students and Residents, who took part in the collection of data for the study, said many diseases and deaths are caused by smoking. However, the use of tobacco expands. The marketing tactics used by companies that make cigarettes are misleading. Besides the objective of selling own products, the cigarette making companies aim to create the impression that the cigarettes are in vogue and trendy.
Programs coordinator at the Center for Health Policies and Studies Ghenadie Turcanu said the tobacco products are placed near sports or recreational equipment in order to promote tobacco among the young people as these are fond of sport and recreational activities. The tobacco products are also located near sweets and toys, even at the level of children’s eyes.
In the data collection period, advertisements for tobacco products, such as cigarette lighters with the brand on them, which is banned by the legislation, were identified in 14% places.
The study shows that cigarettes are sold in 60% of the retail outlets located within 250 meters of primary and secondary schools in Chisinau and Balti municipality. Of 320 outlets that sell tobacco products near schools, 58 are situated in the visual perimeter of education institutions. The given outlets have the shelves full of tobacco products so as to attract the consumers’ eye.
The data of the study “Sale of tobacco products in retail outlets in the perimeter of primary and secondary schools in Chisinau and Balti municipality” were collected by students of the Association of Medical Students and Residents during July 13-15, 2016. This was conducted by the Institute for Global Tobacco Control of the Bloomberg School of Public Health.
