The Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) has launched a campaign to raise awareness about Law No. 10 of 2016 on the control of tobacco and its derivatives. The campaign aims to encourage general public to follow the tobacco control laws and emphasize the penalties for any violation of the law to tobacco users and businesses dealing in tobacco products.
The law prohibits smoking in closed public places and in vehicles carrying minors, which can attract a fine of QR3,000. Shops that allow indoor tobacco use or the sale of tobacco products to minors will face steep fines and up to three months’ closure of the shop. Under the law, no advertisement for tobacco or its derivatives are allowed and the law bans the sale of electronic cigarettes.
Use of tobacco can lead to a multitude of health problems. The tar in cigarettes coats the lungs and can cause lung and throat cancer in smokers. Carbon monoxide in cigarettes reduces the amount of oxygen available to the muscles, brain and blood forcing the whole body, especially the heart, to work harder. Over time, this causes the airways to narrow and as a result blood pressure rises leading to heart attack and stroke. High levels of carbon monoxide together with nicotine, increase the risk of heart disease, hardening of the arteries and other circulatory problems.
Long-term effects of smoking include increased risk of stroke and brain damage, eye cataracts, muscular degeneration, yellowing of whites of eyes, loss of sense of smell and taste, tooth decay, bad breath, cancer of the nose, lip, tongue and mouth, laryngeal and pharyngeal cancers, chronic bronchitis and coughing, asthma, stomach and bladder cancers, stomach ulcers, damaged sperm and reduced sperm leading to impotence.
Tobacco consumption alone accounts for nearly 5.4 million deaths per year and one billion people may die in this century if global tobacco consumption remains at the current levels.
All these facts should act as an eye-opener to the thousands of chronic smokers and they should strictly follow the restrictions being imposed by the authorities and listen to the warnings issued by health practitioners.
There are several laws aimed at curbing the spread and use of tobacco products across the world and thousands of people are being punished for violations of such laws on daily basis across the world. Without people’s commitment and awareness, no law can wean smokers from the habit. Smokers should understand that they are committing a very slow suicide which can be easily avoided by strong will power and getting the right treatment and advice from health professionals.
The State of Qatar is doing whatever possible for the well being of its people and it is commendable that the authorities are exerting all efforts to push the awareness drive to drill in the message of risks of smoking into people. Now it is the smokers’ turn to listen and act accordingly.
