Tobacco News and Interesting Information

PENANG: The number of women in the country who have taken up smoking has doubled in recent years.

Health Ministry parliamentary secretary Datuk Lee Kah Choon said 8% of the estimated six million smokers were women – which comes up to 480,000.

"This may not seem much, but several years ago women only made up of 4% of the nation's smokers," he said.

Lee said the ministry would continue with its efforts to discourage smoking, including controlling and analysing the market and creating awareness through its Tak Nak campaign.

"The price of a pack of 20 sticks of cigarettes is now RM7.40 compared with RM7 before the last Budget. According to a World Bank report several years ago, raising the price of cigarettes by 10% would bring about a reduction of 4% to 8% in sales.

"Other steps we have taken include banning the sale of loose cigarettes and small packs of eight, 10 and 12 sticks," he said.

Lee said the Government was now formulating a Tobacco Products Act and that once it comes into force additional measures can be taken.

These include having images of damaged lungs on packets, registering cigarette factories and manufacturers, and stepping up checks to ensure that nicotine and tar content did not exceed permissible levels.