The fight against smoking “cannot be an element of political discussion” because “we are talking about avoiding deaths, saving lives.” This is the clear message that the president of the Spanish Association against Cancer (Aecc), Ramón Reyes, sent this Wednesday from Murcia. The warning is aimed mainly at the autonomous communities, which this Friday will have to vote on the new anti-smoking plan with which the Ministry of Health intends to raise the prices of packs, equate vaping with traditional tobacco and restrict consumption in public spaces. The final document was presented this Wednesday to the autonomies in the Public Health Commission, with the incorporation of 160 of the 180 allegations presented by the territories. The regional government still does not clarify what the Region of Murcia will vote on in the Interterritorial Council.
Like the rest of the numerous medical, scientific and health organizations that have been consulted by the Ministry, the Aecc supports the plan. «We are super committed to the anti-smoking law. We are collaborating 100% with the Ministry to make this happen: to increase the price of tobacco, to regulate advertising and these products. [los vapeadores] “They cannot be sold in a supermarket nor can they be given to children,” stressed Ramón Reyes in Murcia, during the inauguration of a new Physical Activity and Sports Center for cancer patients linked to the Activa Suma program of the Ministry of Health.
The Spanish Association against Cancer does not contemplate that the climate of political polarization could translate into obstacles on the part of some autonomous communities. This is how its president expressed it: «I hope not, because we are talking about avoiding deaths, saving lives, protecting the most unprotected groups from advertising. Therefore, I hope that common sense prevails in the parties. This cannot be an element of discussion due to political elements. We are risking our lives, this is about lives, so I understand that all parties have common sense to see that you cannot play with your life. “Playing with tobacco is playing with life.”
Ramón Reyes recalled that tobacco is the “number one enemy of health” and warned that the approval of the measures provided for in the plan is urgent. For example, the increase in the price of packs. «With Croatia, we are the only country [europeo] in which they are sold for 5 euros. In others it is already 10, 12 or 15 euros. We are the tobacconist of Europe: people come here to buy tobacco.
One of the issues that currently most concerns the Aecc and the medical and scientific organizations involved in the fight against tobacco is the growing access of younger people to smoking through vapes and electronic cigarettes. “Only 5% of those who smoke start doing so after the age of 25.” For this reason, “the tobacco industry is directing all of its advertising and product development to the younger population.” They are products that the industry “is inventing” to reach adolescents “of 12, 13 or 14 years old.” “Vapes are being given away for first communions, it's crazy,” Reyes warned.
The alarms have gone off with the success of this entire strategy, which is reflected in a rebound in consumption in the new generations. In the Region of Murcia, 23.2% of schoolchildren between 14 and 18 years old smoke regularly, according to the latest Study on Drugs in Secondary Education (Estudes), with data from 2021. The rate in the Region is somewhat below the average in Spain (23.9%). «Everything that is being done with the 'influencers' who vape, with what we call digital smoke, is becoming fashionable [el tabaco]. All of this must be regulated. We have to protect children and young people,” insisted the president of the Aecc. In this sense, the Ministry's plan involves equating electronic cigarettes and other products with tobacco, both in advertising and in their consumption in public spaces.
In this regard, the Cancer Association is a firm supporter of the ban on smoking on terraces. «During the pandemic we couldn't smoke on the terraces, and nothing happened. Freedom is not smoking on the terraces, freedom is enjoying them without smoke,” said its president.
Health does not clarify whether it will vote in favor and asks for “financing” to apply the plan
The Ministry of Health has not yet clarified what the Interterritorial Council will vote next Friday, nor are the allegations presented by this department to the anti-smoking plan beyond the request that the document be accompanied by “an economic report.” The Minister of Health, Juan José Pedreño, warned this Wednesday that the plan must be “very well financed” if it wants to be “ambitious.” Resources will be needed for smoking cessation treatments and for the implementation of different strategies, he recalled.
Asked about the position of the regional government, Pedreño stated: «On Friday the report will be presented to us at the Interterritorial Council. “We are in an analysis phase.” «Above all, we are very clear that we are committed to reducing tobacco consumption, because we know that tobacco harms health and that [la reducción de su consumo] It benefits society and smokers. We are undoubtedly committed to achieving, through this plan, that we can have tobacco-free generations in Spain. But [necesitamos] especially financing. Without funding we can't do anything,” he added.
The counselor also did not specify the position that the Region will defend regarding the ban on tobacco on hospitality terraces, although he was open to supporting it: “Let's see what the Public Health Commission says, how the criteria are defined. We have an example in the Region, which is smoke-free spaces on beaches and, therefore, we rely on this type of evidence. We are committed to reducing tobacco consumption; We know that it harms our health, that it causes us many diseases. “We know that we benefit society and smokers if we propose a good strategy for smoking cessation.”
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