Photo: Tobacco displays at a grocery store in Russia are covered and simply labelled “tobacco” (tabak), so shoppers are not exposed to tobacco advertising.
During a recent trip to her home country, Russia, Irina Morozova, Director of the Road Safety Communication program and a longtime tobacco control technical advisor on the Policy, Advocacy and Communication team, reflects on tobacco control work there, charting the progress that has been made to protect citizens with smart policies, including a recent tobacco tax proposal to generate revenue for COVID-19 recovery.
This summer I left New York City, where I have lived for 10 years, and went back to my homeland, Russia, to spend time in the woods outside Moscow.
Walking around the capital (wearing a mask, of course), I was able to take in the rich fragrances of food and other smells of the city, rather than the toxic fumes of cigarettes—a significant improvement from how it was when I left a decade ago.
At that time, Russia was one of five key focus countries in the Bloomberg Initiative to Reduce Tobacco Use, a landmark global initiative founded on the idea that we can save 100 million people from early death due to tobacco use. Russia’s smoking prevalence then was 39.1% among adults—one of the highest smoking rates in the world. As part of a small partnership of civil society and government stakeholders, I developed media campaigns to advocate for strong tobacco control legislation and foster a receptive environment for change. Our group also advised the government on smoke-free policy and effective legislation, especially surrounding packaging and labeling, point of sale displays and tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship (TAPS).
We saw our hard work pay off when a national tobacco control law was signed on “Defender of the Fatherland Day,” Feb. 23, 2013. The law restricted smoking in public places and banned TAPS, point of sale marketing and depictions of smoking in movies. That legacy has continued to grow; Last summer, a new amendment to the Tobacco Control Law placed tobacco and other nicotine products, including e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products, under the same legal restrictions.
The country has since made great strides in reducing tobacco use. In March 2015, the Ministry of Health found that the number of smokers in Russia had decreased by approximately 17% since the adoption of tobacco control legislation.Additionally, a new country initiative has the ambitious goal of decreasing the prevalence of smoking among Russian adults to 21% by 2035.
The World Health Organization gives Russia an overall score of 7 out of 10 for smoke-free compliance because the government continues to incrementally increase tobacco taxes, restrict tobacco advertisem*nts and invest in tobacco control media campaigns. The point of sale restrictions on advertising also include covered cigarette displays, so customers are not exposed to tobacco package advertising while shopping.
Recently, the Ministry of Finance announced a plan to increase tobacco taxes by 20%. This tax is intended to generate revenue for the government which has been under economic strain because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The current price of a cigarette pack in Russia is 115 rubles (US $1.48), and of this, more than half, at least 64 rubles are taxes. Under the new plan, a pack of cigarettes will cost 138 rubles or US$1.78.
A few challenges remain: the law is vague concerning smoking in outdoor spaces of restaurants and on balconies—the latter effectively offering smokers the best spaces and views of the city while they eat and drink. Also, while there are strong graphic health warnings on cigarette packs, there are no plans to implement plain packaging. Plain packaging means warning labels cover the whole pack, only certain drab colors may be used and logos or other branding elements are not allowed.
I will be sure to check back on my home country’s progress in the coming years. In the meantime, I’m encouraged by how the work we started over 12 years ago is being enforced and strengthened.
As someone deeply entrenched in the field of tobacco control, I bring not only a wealth of theoretical knowledge but also a practical understanding gained through firsthand experience and active involvement in significant initiatives. My name is Irina Morozova, and I am the Director of the Road Safety Communication program, as well as a longstanding tobacco control technical advisor on the Policy, Advocacy, and Communication team. Over the years, I have dedicated my expertise to the Bloomberg Initiative to Reduce Tobacco Use, particularly focusing on Russia, my homeland.
The article you provided offers a comprehensive overview of the progress made in tobacco control in Russia, and I'm pleased to share insights on the concepts involved:
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Bloomberg Initiative to Reduce Tobacco Use:
- This global initiative aims to save millions of lives by reducing tobacco use. Russia, being one of the key focus countries, has seen substantial efforts and achievements through this initiative.
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Tobacco Control Legislation in Russia:
- The article mentions the enactment of a national tobacco control law in 2013, restricting smoking in public places and implementing bans on TAPS, point of sale marketing, and smoking depictions in movies. The continuous development of this legislation, including amendments to include emerging products like e-cigarettes, reflects ongoing commitment.
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Reduction in Smoking Prevalence:
- The Ministry of Health reported a significant 17% decrease in the number of smokers in Russia since the adoption of tobacco control legislation in March 2015, indicating a positive impact on public health.
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Government Initiatives and World Health Organization (WHO) Ratings:
- Russia's commitment to reducing tobacco use is evident in the government's incremental increase in tobacco taxes, restrictions on tobacco advertisem*nts, and investments in tobacco control media campaigns. The World Health Organization has acknowledged this progress by giving Russia a score of 7 out of 10 for smoke-free compliance.
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Tobacco Tax Increase for COVID-19 Recovery:
- The Ministry of Finance's recent announcement of a 20% increase in tobacco taxes reflects a strategic move to generate revenue for COVID-19 recovery. The article provides details on the current and proposed prices of cigarette packs, highlighting the significant tax contribution.
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Challenges and Future Directions:
- Despite the remarkable progress, challenges persist, such as vague regulations on smoking in outdoor spaces and the absence of plans for plain packaging. These nuances indicate areas where further refinement and development may be needed.
In conclusion, Russia's journey in tobacco control showcases a multi-faceted approach involving legislation, taxation, and public awareness campaigns. The commitment to continuous improvement is evident, and the recent proposal to increase tobacco taxes for COVID-19 recovery demonstrates adaptability in addressing emerging challenges. I look forward to monitoring and contributing to the ongoing advancements in my home country's tobacco control efforts.
