Kuwaitis Are The Heaviest Smokers In Gcc

Dr. Al-Yahya from the Ministry of Health revealed that Kuwait ranks first in the Gulf in terms of male smoking rates. 39.9% of men in Kuwait smoke, while 3 % of women in Kuwait smoke, Al Jarida daily reported.

During a symposium organized by the Kuwait Society for Smoking and Cancer Control on the occasion of the World No Tobacco Day 2021, Al-Yahya said that according to a study carried out by the Health Promotion Department, on average smokers start smoking at the age of 17 years in Kuwait.

She further explained that some kids start to use cigarettes at the age of 8 years, which is very dangerous, pointing out that a survey conducted on adolescents in 2016 showed that the smoking rate among adolescent males (13-15 years) is 24% and 8% of girls smoke daily.

She indicated that the percentage of women smoking 3% is only for smoking cigarettes, and if we add to it other types of tobacco such as hookah, the percentage will reach 5% and if we add electronic smoking, the percentage will increase even more.

She stated that the prices of cigarettes in Kuwait are the cheapest in the GCC countries after the State of Qatar, noting that the annual cost of smoking in Kuwait is KD 481 million.

She added that smoking causes the death of 49 out of every 100,000 male, which is the highest rate in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), noting that according to the classifications we have followed during the past ten years, smoking is considered one of the most important risk factors for morbidity and premature death in the State of Kuwait.

Dr. Al-Yahya explained that the Ministry of Endowments and Islamic Affairs, in cooperation with the Anti-Smoking and Cancer Association, devoted the sermon last Friday to the scourge of smoking. And she called for the need to pass the selective tax law on tobacco products, as the tax raises the price of these products, which may lead to a reduction in consumption, especially among young people.

 

SOURCE  TIMESKUWAIT

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