Tobacco Sales in Egypt Reach 135 Billion Pounds Annually

Secretary General of the Union of Arab Chambers, Khaled Hanafi, has revealed that Egypt’s yearly tobacco sales amount to a staggering 135 billion pounds. Additionally, the average per capita consumption of cigarettes in Egypt is a striking 6,000 cigarettes per year.

Discussion on the Economics of Tobacco in Egypt

During a dialogue session hosted by the National Planning Institute, Khaled Hanafi presented the findings of the report titled “The Economics of Tobacco and Tobacco Taxes in Egypt.” This report is part of a project launched by the Institute for Health Research and Policy at the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC), in collaboration with the Bloomberg Initiative to Reduce Tobacco Use, the Social Policy and Development Center (SPDC), and the World Health Organization (WHO).

Hanafi highlighted the key points and recommendations of the report, emphasizing the need for attention to be given to the protection and reduction of new smokers. He further emphasized the significance of directing tobacco taxes towards supporting the healthcare system.

Addressing The Importance of Reduction

Hanafi stressed the report’s recommendation for the development of more effective incentives, particularly in impoverished areas, in order to decrease the rates of new smokers and encourage quitting. Additionally, he advocated for the implementation of measures such as raising the age limit for cigarette purchase from 18 to 21 years and organizing extensive media awareness campaigns.

Source: RT