Stricter Tobacco and Smoking Legislation Submitted to the Parliament

The Government of Albanian submitted a new, much stricter draft-Law on Tobacco and Smoking for Parliamentary review and debate. The draft will completely outlaw sale of cigarettes to children and minors younger than 18, and will present stricter rules for tobacco industry, regarding sale and advertising of tobacco products. This new draft is a part of the World Health Organization project intended to reduce the tobacco consumption in the general population. In terms of tobacco industry, the new law proposes a total ban of billboard advertising, as well as forms of direct marketing in the street, including free samples of new brands to attract smokers. The law introduces penalties for producers and retail and whole-sale sellers that fail to comply to the provisions. The WHO project and the resulting bilateral agreements with Albania require much stricter regulation of smoking and exposure to smoke in public spaces, such as public transportation, working environtments, public facilities and institutions. The authors of the Law believe that the newly introduced tax policies and stricter regulation will be an effective tool to cut down on tobacco consumption. Tobacco manufacturers will loose all opportunity for advertising, having in mind the health hazards it presents.