Yes
Established through the Tobacco Products Control Act 83 of 1993, South Africa has a ban on tobacco advertisments and smoking in public places. Amended in 2008, the act increased the age of sale from 16 to 18 years old and banned tobacco sales at health and educational establishments. Smokeless tobacco and heat-not-burn products are regulated as tobacco products, but e-cigarettes are not specifically prohibited by legislation and are subject to medical regulations. However, in practice, this is not strongly regulated, and vaping products are widely available.
Tobacco use has steadily declined, although the illegal sale of cigarettes remains prevalent as a means to fulfill consumer demand for cheaper products. South African media covers these issues and a growing consumer interest in vaping and other alternatives.
An increasing number of consumers have expressed interest in safer alternatives to cigarettes. This trend has been most noticeable among millennial smokers.
“We have a very strong anti-tobacco campaign in this country, but moving people to quitting is hindered by people’s perceptions about what smoking does.”
It's time for America to reclaim its role in global health leadership - https://bit.ly/3oXnGp3
Important message @UN @unfoundation but vital that #globalhealth does not revert to being focused only on #infections A huge preventive potential exists thru ending smoking, promoting activity & healthy diets, with better mental health. https://www.statnews.com/2021/01/20/welcome-back-to-the-global-health-stage-america-you-have-a-lot-of-work-to-do/
After 2 years of implementation, @WHO has not produced a report on their #tobaccocontrol acceleration plan. In a @smokefreefdn blog post, @ehsanlatif writes, “We needn’t accept bureaucratic inaction & in fact, we have a moral imperative to demand change.” https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/761266-uneven-implementation-of-fctc-articles-impeding-tobacco-control
In response to the @WHO's recent report on the Tenth Meeting of the WHO Group on Tobacco Regulation, @SmokeFreeFdn developed an analysis with support from experts in the field of #TobaccoCessation and #HarmReduction and shared with stakeholders.
https://bit.ly/3nSSciE
#Inequality of access to aids that can improve health is a subject that must be addressed in 2021. "The disproportionate marketing of the riskiest tobacco products in socially and economically disadvantaged communities is particularly troubling.” https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30452712/
#Inequality in the @FCTCofficial’s #tobaccocontrol approach neglects the needs of 3 subgroups
1. People with #mentalhealth conditions
2. The Rainbow community
3. #Indigenous populations.
This analysis explores the ways these groups have been left behind:
https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/DAT-02-2020-0004/full/pdf?title=tobacco-smoking-in-three-left-behind-subgroups-indigenous-the-rainbow-community-and-people-with-mental-health-conditions
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