Russian Policy Expert Suggests Limiting Tobacco Sales to Pregnant Women and Parents

According to the report by RT, Director of the Russian Institute for Contemporary Policy Studies Anton Orlov has proposed restricting the sale of tobacco products to pregnant women and citizens with children.

In an open letter, Ollov pointed out that Russia has implemented several regulations over the past decade aimed at reducing smoking and protecting citizens, especially minors, from the effects of secondhand smoke. He reminded people not to forget that tobacco advertising is now banned, stores no longer display tobacco products openly, and packages must include warnings about the harms of smoking. Additionally, many public places such as restaurants, airports, and train stations have banned smoking.

Aurlov emphasized that there are still some ambiguous aspects in existing legislation. For example, current laws do not prohibit the sale of tobacco products to pregnant women, even though smoking can cause serious harm to the health of the fetus and have adverse effects on their physical and mental development. He also pointed out that the law does not prohibit the sale of tobacco products to citizens with underage children, which could potentially spark excessive interest in tobacco among children.

"Therefore, I urge you to consider the necessity of amending federal laws and other regulations to prohibit the retail sale of tobacco and nicotine products to pregnant women and individuals accompanying children," Orlov wrote in the letter.

Previously, the Russian government approved measures to control the production and distribution of tobacco.