Two TV spots about no smoking in restaurants and cafes will be broadcast on VTV1, VTV2 and VTV3 channels of Vietnam Television (Photo courtesy of the Tobacco Harm Prevention Fund) With the theme "Speak up to protect your health and your loved ones",the campaign will broadcast two TV spots about no smoking in restaurants andcafes on VTV1, VTV2 and VTV3 channels of the Vietnam Television from August 10.The campaign is part of the Tobacco Control Fund’s 2021 communication programmewith technical support from Vital Organization Strategies to promote theimplementation of the Tobacco Harm Prevention Law passed by the NationalAssembly in 2012.
Through the broadcast of two TV spots about no smoking in restaurants andcafes, the campaign expects to widely raise awareness about the harmful effectsof tobacco on smokers and those around them and call on people to strictlycomply with the law on places where smoking is prohibited.
Director of the Medical Services Administration under the Ministry of Health,Director of the Tobacco Harm Prevention Fund Luong Ngoc Khue said that buildinga smoke-free environment was an effective measure to implement the right ofnon-smokers to breathe fresh and smoke-free air.
“Vietnam has more than 15 million adult smokers while the number of non-smokersis 75 million, five times the number of smokers. Non-smokers will not want togo to places contaminated with tobacco smoke, so I believe that smoke-free hotelsand restaurants will be priority destinations for customers,” said Khue.
“We also hope that through the communication campaign, restaurant and hotelowners will acknowledge more about the law and regulations on smoking-freeplaces and will actively participate in building a safe and smoke-freeenvironment, benefitting themselves and protecting their customers and people'shealth,” added Khue.
Khue said that in the future, the Tobacco Harm Prevention and Control Fund willcontinue to support ministries, sectors, provinces and cities to promote asmoke-free environment in the community, strengthen the implementation ofregulations on smoke-free places at workplaces, educational institutions,medical facilities, train stations, public transport, and other indoor publicplaces as prescribed by the Tobacco Harm Prevention Law.
According to WHO, around the world tobacco use causes 8 million deaths eachyear (7 million from direct smoking and 1.2 million from passive smoking). Theglobal cost of smoking is 1 trillion USD. In Vietnam, tobacco causes 40,000premature deaths each year. Spending on smoking accounts for over 31 trillion VNDper year among Vietnamese households. The cost of a number of commontobacco-related diseases has reached over 21 trillion VND per year, accordingto the Tobacco Harm Prevention Fund./.
VNA
