Gov’t Plans to Take Control of Cigarette Online Sales

The cabinet may take control of the retail of cigarettes and similar products, restricting their sale to small family-run tobacconist stores in order to reduce smoking and create jobs, Fidesz caucus leader János Lázár told reporters on Monday. He said the issue is complex but is also urgent as more young people are taking up smoking. Minors are often able to buy cigarettes online, he said, adding that this is more common at multinational retail chains. Lázár said the government wants to follow the Austrian model whereby only tobacconist stores would be authorised to sell tobacco products. Retail tobacco trade could become a state monopoly from 2013, according to a copy of a Fidesz presentation obtained by Magyar Nemzet. The proposal has not yet been submitted to Parliament.

Resist Tobacco Firms' Suits

An official of the World Health Organization (WHO) has called on governments to be firm against efforts of big tobacco companies opposing new laws that may affect their sales. “Tobacco is the only industry that produces products to make huge profits and at the same time damage the health and kill their consumers,” said WHO director-general Margaret Chan during a public health meeting in Geneva earlier this week. “How can we as an international community allow big tobacco to harass countries?” Chan said. In her speech during a unity call in Geneva, Switzerland, Chan noted that big tobacco companies have been harassing countries like Australia, the United States, Uruguay and Norway for coming up with measures aimed at reducing smoking and fighting smoking-related diseases.