Stricter Measures Urged by WHO against Tobacco Consumption

The World Health Organization (WHO) is calling for stricter measures to be implemented against tobacco consumption. Rüdiger Krech, the WHO Director of Health Promotion, expressed dissatisfaction with the German government's approach to fighting tobacco use, labeling Germany as a cause for concern. Krech stated, "We cannot really understand why the political measures for tobacco control in Germany are so lax."

In contrast, the WHO reported progress globally on Monday, with more countries taking action against smoking. The new report on the tobacco epidemic states that 5.6 billion people now live in countries that have implemented at least one of the WHO's recommended measures for protecting non-smokers. These measures include graphic warnings on cigarette packages, advertising bans, public smoking bans, and high taxation on tobacco products. The most widely implemented anti-tobacco measure worldwide is the use of graphic images on packaging, which is now regulated in 103 countries with a total population of 4.5 billion.

However, the WHO believes that Germany is lacking several elements in its tobacco control efforts. Krech emphasized that recent cigarette price increases have been below the inflation rate, making smoking ultimately cheaper, not more expensive. The smoking ban in restaurants is patchy, and the advertising ban is implemented inadequately.

The WHO also has reservations about e-cigarettes, stating on its website that "E-cigarettes do not contain tobacco but are harmful to health and are not safe." However, it is still too early to provide a definitive answer on the long-term effects of their use.

Previously, only two countries, Brazil and Turkey, had the highest standards for a tobacco-free world. However, in the latest report, the WHO announced that Mauritius and the Netherlands have also achieved these standards.

On a brighter note, the iconic HB-Männchen character, famous for its tantrums in cigarette advertisements during the economic miracle period of the 1960s, has long since disappeared from screens and billboards. Similarly, the Marlboro Man can no longer promote Camel cigarettes as a "doctor's recommendation.