WHO: Half of 1.3 million Azerbaijanis may not cross 70, cigarette price must increase

The rising price of tobacco products in Azerbaijan has been recommended by the World Health Organization. The study accomplished by the Organization reveals that half of 1.3 million smokers in Azerbaijan may not cross 70 years.

The head of Azerbaijan office of the World Health Organization, Hande Harmanci said that young people in Baku smoke both cigarettes and hookah a lot and smoking a hookah is equivalent to smoking 40 cigarettes.

“Smoking remains a serious problem worldwide. Unfortunately, there are enough smokers in Azerbaijan,” Hande Harmanci said. She also added that the reason behind excess smokers in Azerbaijan is the availability of cheap and quite affordable tobacco products. The cost of cigarette was almost doubled in the last two years in the country, still it is quite affordable to the common people.

“Smoking remains a serious problem worldwide. Unfortunately, there are enough smokers in Azerbaijan. Therefore, the struggle to curb this addiction is vital, and the most important step is to increase the price of tobacco products because cigarettes are very cheap in Azerbaijan. This could prevent youth from smoking, to a certain extent,” she further said.

She emphasized that it is quite necessary to reduce the advertising of tobacco products. She also welcomed the anti-tobacco law that was passed in the country recently. People living in Azerbaijan are also banned smoking in public places.