Kuwait Times, Thursday, Jun 01, 2023 | Thul-Qidah 12, 1444
Tobacco taxes should be mandated in Kuwait: Health official
Kuwait:
The new parliament should impose taxes on tobacco
and take measures to combat smoking, Director of Mubarak Al-Kabeer health area
Waleed Al-Busairi said Wednesday at an event held by the Ministry of Health to
raise awareness against growing tobacco.
The campaign was held on the occasion of “World No Tobacco Day” observed by all
United Nations member states on May 31. The campaign, said Busairi, aims to
alert people to the dangerous effects of smoking on both individuals and society
as a whole.
“Kuwait has the lowest prices for cigarettes among all Gulf countries,” said
Vice President of the Health Ministry’s National Anti-Smoking Program Dr Ahmad
Al-Shatti. He said he hoped Kuwait would mandate higher prices for cigarettes in
order to reduce consumption rates in the country, pointing out that smoking is a
major contributor to the development of many ailments.
Dr Abeer Al-Bahwa, the Director of the Health Promotion Department and the
Campaign Officer, said the campaign aims to urge governments to discontinue
subsidies for tobacco cultivation and redirect the savings to support farmers in
transitioning to more sustainable crops that enhance food security.
The campaign seeks to raise awareness among tobacco-growing communities
regarding the benefits of abstaining from tobacco and cultivating sustainable
crops. It supports endeavors to combat desertification and environmental
degradation by reducing tobacco cultivation while exposing the industry’s
obstruction of sustainable livelihoods.
8 million deaths
Bahwa said tobacco usage accounts for 25 percent of all global cancer-related
deaths, with tobacco smokers being 22 times more likely to develop lung cancer
compared to non-smokers. “Tobacco is the only preventable cause of illness and
death worldwide,” said Bahwa. “(However), it causes more than 8 million deaths
every year.” Teaching children and youth about the effects of smoking through
health promotion programs at schools, said Busairi, is essential in protecting
against future risks. He urged parents to set a good example for their children
by refraining from smoking.
Dr Israa Mandani, the head of the Mubarak Al-Kabeer Division in the School
Health Department, reaffirmed the commitment of school health awareness programs
to combat smoking through informative lectures. A total of 190 lectures were
conducted across various middle and secondary schools, she said. — KUNA
How affordable is tobacco in Kuwait?
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Kuwait levies an import duty
on tobacco products, which amounts to 100 percent of the cost, insurance and
freight value.
There is also a minimum specific import duty of KD 8 per 1,000 cigarettes, which
has not increased in the last 10 years – despite other Gulf Cooperation Council
(GCC) countries increasing minimum import duties. The minimum import duty on
waterpipe tobacco is KD 3 per kilogram.
What does WHO say about Kuwait’s tobacco policies?
WHO recommends Kuwait decrease the affordability of tobacco, particularly the
waterpipe variety.
“A uniform specific excise tax should be implemented on all tobacco products and
gradually increased,” said WHO in its recommendations.
“When implemented, the excise tax should be extended to include all tobacco
products in order to maximize the reduction in consumption.”
WHO also recommends banning duty-free allowances for tobacco products and
earmarking part of tobacco revenue for health or tobacco control.