Sat, Nov 21 2009

Clive Leviev-Sawyer

Editorial: Smoking and sin taxes

Fri, Oct 02 2009 09:59 CET byClive Leviev-Sawyer 1568 Views
The term "sin tax" has been applied to excises on tobacco and liquor. In Bulgaria, the idea of taxing smoking to the hilt seems an idea that is overripe.

There have been twofold messages from the European Union. The first is that Bulgaria has a limited time to bring its excises on tobacco products up to EU levels, and if reports about the planned increase in taxes on tobacco are correct, will do so ahead of schedule.

The second message from the EU is that it would like to have rules applicable universally across the bloc to discourage smoking, which Brussels says killed about 20 000 non-smokers a year through secondary smoke.

In Bulgaria, laws requiring separate non-smoking areas have proven to be a bad joke, and it is understandable that people sniff at plans to widen the "ban" in 2010. But high prices discourage purchases.

Most of all, those who oppose smoking say that the habit has an enormous impact on the economy through lost productivity and public costs of health care – and again, in Bulgaria, health care gets a low rating, with several reports of cancer treatment facilities being under-funded and inadequate. Inasmuch as higher prices for cigarettes will make smokers gasp, there will be others who will cheer.

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Seventy per cent of Bulgarian smokers wanted to quit, survey says

Bulgaria ranks third in the world in terms of smoking, after Japan and Greece.

Six hundred people sanctioned for smoking inside trains

Those who refused to pay the 20 leva fine were taken off the trains.

Greece to re-evaluate smoking ban amid widespread resistance

Authorities will launch a review of the law that was passed earlier this year, following complaints from non-smokers at home and pressure from the European Union.

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Every kidnapping in Bulgaria spawns innuendo about the victim, that somehow the episode is revenge for some other deed in the underworld.

Croatia reverses smoking ban in public places

On September 10 2009 the ban on smoking in bars and cafes in Croatia was partially repealed. Proprietors with establishments that have an area of less than 50 sq m will be able to choose whether to allow smoking.

Smoking on the beach ‘heightens cancer risk’

Team of scientists, including a Bulgarian professor, says that sunlight worsens the carcinogenic effect of tobacco.

Turkey bans smoking in bars, cafés and restaurants

Ban, taking effect on July 19 2009, extends an earlier ban issued in May 2008 on smoking in offices, public transport and other public places. Turkey’s health minister says that ban brought down smoking by seven per cent.

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