66% of Almaty facilities allow smoking despite the ban - J.Sadykova

"We held two large-scale studies involving international experts from WHO/Europe and CDC as well as independent research agency «BRIF Research Group» between July and November of the current year within the " Tobacco-free Almaty" project funded by the southern capital's internal politics administration", - says Jamilya Sadykova, director of the National Coalition "For tobacco-free Kazakhstan".

The first study was conducted using a "Secret Visitor" method, when observers monitored performance of the anti-smoking legislation at more than 2 000 facilities of Almaty. Poor execution of the ban on smoking was recorded in public places, especially at catering facilities. In 66% of all the cafes, bars, restaurants, karaoke clubs, nightclubs and even diners smoking is allowed; 26% of facilities "greet" their customers with ashtrays on the tables, 16.4% catering facilities openly offer smoking hookah.

The second study was conducted by «BRIF Research Group» using international GATS procedure covering 2 300 adult residents of Almaty aged 15 and more under supervision of international experts from WHO and CDC.

The results are as follows: 31 % of Almaty residents aged 15 and older smoke, 28% of them smoke daily, 44 % of them are men and 14% are women. Daily an average smoker smokes 15 cigarettes. In case of cost increase of a cigarette brand they are used to up to 750 tenge per pack, 78 % of smokers plan to give up smoking this cigarette brand. The most sensitive age group of these smokers consists of young people between 15 and 24 - 84%.