CAIRO: The notorious picture of a hospital patient that was recently placed on all cigarette packs has not affected the number of smokers, nor cigarette sales in Egypt, a study by the Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics (CAPMAS) revealed. A picture of a patient with a breathing mask on his face - implying a lung disease - was placed on cigarette packs as specified by the new tobacco law that was approved by the People's Assembly (PA) last June. The law stipulates that a detailed health warning should cover 50 percent of the pack on both sides. The study by CAPMAS also found that more than 5 percent of an Egyptian family's income is spent on cigarettes versus 2 percent of the income which is spent on health. In addition, the study also stated that developing nations spend $2,000 billion annually on cigarettes and citizens below the age of 35 represent 67 percent of total smokers in the country. According to a report released by the health committee at the People's Assembly, Egyptians smoke 19 billion cigarettes a year, spending LE 3 billion annually, and smokers in Egypt increases by 6 to 9 percent every year as compared to 1 percent in the West. According to Dr Wael Safwat, a gastroenterologist and smoking cessation specialist, prices and warning signs alone will not affect cigarette sales; there needs to be a change in the society's perception of the smoker. He recommended increasing non-smoking areas as well as anti-smoking campaigns. He also suggested the formation of support groups that can help smokers quit. "Smokers continue to smoke despite all the warnings you give them because of two things. First, it is addictive and second there is the psychological aspect to it as people, especially in Egypt, perceive smoking as a relaxing activity and if they quit smoking then they'll have problems, he explained. Last August, Ibrahim El Embaby, head of the Tobacco Industry Division at the Industries Union, said that the new tobacco law has not affected the sales of cigarettes of water pipe tobacco at all; it only caused a rise in the sales of metal cigarette boxes, according to news reports. The law also prohibits all forms of tobacco advertising, and stipulated a 10 percent increase in the price of cigarettes. It bans smoking in health and educational institutions, youth centers, legislative associations and all government buildings and clubs. Any violating organization will be reprimanded with a LE 1,000-5,000 fine, while the person caught smoking will be fined with LE 50-100.
