JEDDAH: The Anti-Smoking and Narcotics Association in the Makkah province will call on the authorities to force cigarette manufacturers to include on packets pictures depicting the effects of smoking-related diseases.
“We will send an official letter to both the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Commerce to speed up the process of including awareness pictures on cigarette packs,” said Abdullah Seruji, executive director of the association.
Seruji said that within the next year, cigarette packets sold in the Kingdom would contain awareness pictures, a move that, he said, is bound to happen sooner or later, as it is part of the international anti-tobacco agreement that the Kingdom is a signatory of.
“By this call, we want to urge the authorities to take quicker steps in initiating the move,” he said.
He added that many countries, including neighboring Arab states, have made it compulsory for cigarette packets to have such pictures, something that has helped reduce the number of smokers. He noted that many people quit smoking and then start the habit again, as they are not fully aware of the dangers.
“These pictures would be permanent reminders that would have a profound effect on a smoker each time he buys a pack of cigarettes,” he said.
Seruji said that the international agreement also stated that warnings should cover at least 50 percent of cigarette packs, and that governments should increase tax on tobacco products, cooperate in combating illegal tobacco smuggling and help develop research programs concerning efforts to stop the use of tobacco.
The Anti-Smoking and Narcotics Association recently inaugurated the third national Anti-Smoking Campaign, which included various events and lectures about the dangers of smoking.
Seruji said there are over 6 million smokers in the Kingdom, which is the world’s 23 biggest tobacco consumer.
He said that awareness is growing among people, especially the youth. “We receive many people, who come willingly to receive support to quit smoking,” he said.
The association provides counseling and a six-day treatment program with few withdrawal symptoms for people wanting to quit. “The association has helped many locals and residents in quitting this deadly habit,” he added.
