 Chittagong City, population 4 million, is Bangladesh’s second largest city. It has an active network of tobacco control advocacy organizations that work closely with local government to advance the tobacco control agenda. In 2010, this advocacy work helped lead the Chittagong City government to enact a ban on all tobacco advertising, including advertising indirectly through surrogates and brand extensions such as lighters featuring cigarette brands. Although there is an existing national ban on tobacco billboard advertising, the law does not explicitly cover indirect advertising, point-of-sale marketing, or other promotional activities, and overall enforcement is suboptimal.
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Developing Impactful Awareness Raising Campaigns towards Reducing Tobacco Consumption
Training Course on ‘Packaging, Labeling and Pictorial Health Warnings on Tobacco Products’
World Health Organisation Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC), the 3rd session of the Conference of the Parties
On 17 August 2011, the Lebanese Parliament adopted a new tobacco-control act. The most important provisions of the act include: a complete ban on smoking in all closed public places such as restaurants, cafes and public transport; a ban on tobacco companies from conducting any kind of advertising or sponsorship campaigns; and a warning that covers 40% of cigarette packs. Fines for non-compliance with the new smoke-free regulations will be applied to both the owners and the smokers themselves. The law gives owners of hospitality establishments one year to prepare for the upcoming ban on smoking in closed spaces. More than 3500 Lebanese die each year from tobacco-related diseases.