Brazil becomes largest country in the world to pass comprehensive smoke-free law
Brazil becomes largest country in the world to pass comprehensive smoke-free law
The legislation passed on Thursday will make Brazil the largest country to be completely smoke-free
On Thursday, 15 December, Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff signed new comprehensive tobacco control measurements into law that will make Brazil the largest country in the world to be completely smoke-free. In addition to outlawing smoking in enclosed public places and workplaces, the law increases tobacco taxes, increases the amount of health warnings required on tobacco packaging and bans point-of-sale advertising for tobacco products.
Tobacco is a leading cause of cardiovascular disease and is responsible for almost 5 million deaths worldwide every year. Over 17% of adult Brazilians smoke and by 2025 the World Health Organization (WHO) predicts that over 48 million Brazilian children aged 14 and younger will smoke. The law passed this week in Brazil will aid in protecting Brazilians from secondhand smoke, encouraging those who smoke to quit and preventing children from ever beginning to smoke.
Brazil will become the 13th Latin American country to become 100% smoke-free, bringing them one step closer to full implementation of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC).
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