Russia ranks world’s first by amount of consumed tobacco – minister
11:52, 6 October 2010
MOSCOW. October 6. KAZINFORM Russia ranks the world's first by the amount of consumed tobacco, Health and Social Development Minister Tatiana Golikova said at the Tuesday meeting of the government presidium; Kazinform refers to Itar-Tass.
She referred to information of the World Health Organization (WHO).
"We thought we would rank under Mexico and Egypt, but that is not so," the minister said.
The number of Russian smokers with higher education is twice higher than the number of Russian smokers with primary education, Golikova said. "People with higher education make up 43.1% of all smokers, people with secondary education make up 38.1%, and people with primary education - 17%," she said.
"According to our analysis, a pack of cigarettes costs 26.4 rubles, and a loaf of bread costs 26 rubles. We must raise tobacco excises," she said.
The government intends to cut the number of smokers in Russia by 10-15% thanks to the anti-tobacco concept.