The tobacco industry predicts a global expansion of the tobacco epidemic in the next few years.The increases in consumption lie principally in the developing nations, while consumption in the industrialised countries will be static or in decline.In all the countries surveyed, the biggest growth between 1998 and 2008 is expected to be in Zimbabwe, followed by Côte d’Ivoire, Brazil, Morocco, Venezuela, Pakistan, United Republic of Tanzania and Bangladesh.

The greatest decline is expected in New Zealand, followed by the UK, South Africa, Hong Kong, Australia, Singapore and Finland. In Africa, only the South African market is expected to decrease. In the Americas, growth in Latin America is expected to compensate for declines in the USA and Canada, with the greatest increases in Brazil, Venezuela, Mexico, Peru, Chile and Uruguay.

In Europe, the forecast is mixed, with increases in some markets and decreases in others.

The biggest increase is expected in Norway, and the greatest decline in the UK.In the Middle East region, the highest growth is expected for Morocco, followed by Pakistan

and Tunisia. No country in this region is expected to experience a decline in consumption.

In South East Asia, Bangladesh will see the highest growth, followed by Thailand, while

consumption remains static in India.

In the Western Pacific, Vietnam tops the growth charts, while New Zealand, Hong Kong,

Australia and Singapore show the greatest decline. This transfer of the epidemic from rich to poor countries, with its health and economic consequences, is one that developing countries can ill afford. As long ago as 1986, the World Health Organization predicted that the differential in wealth between rich and poor countries would widen further as a result of tobacco, leading to compromise in sustainable development.

These projections are not inevitable; tobacco control interventions can make a difference.

Smoking has been portrayed by its sellers as a manly, masculine habit, linked to health, happiness,fitness, wealth, power and sexual success. In reality, it leads to sickness, premature death and sexual problems. Almost one billion men in the world smoke – about 35 percent of men in developed countries and 50 percent of men in developing countries. Trends in both developed and developing countries show that male smoking rates have now peaked and,slowly but surely, are declining.However, this is an extremely slow trend over decades, and in the meantime men are dying in their millions from tobacco. In general, the educated man is giving up the habit first, so that smoking is becoming a habit of poorer, less educated males. China deserves special mention because of the enormity of the problem. Comprising over 300 million male smokers, this huge market is, according to Philip Morris, “the most important feature on the landscape.” Overall 300 million men in China- equals to the entire population of the USA are smoker.

Trends In Some Selected Countries

On july 1st 2007, virtually all enclosed public places and workplaces in england became smokefree. this means that it is against the law to smoke in the indoor parts of places such as pubs, bars, nightclubs, cafes and restaurants, lunch rooms, membership clubs and shopping centres. at work, smoking inside has become a thing of the past, and indoor smoking rooms are no longer allowed. public transport and work vehicles used by more than one person are also required to be smokefree. no-smoking signs should be displayed in all smokefree premises and vehicles, to make it clear where you can and can’t smoke.

The new smokefree law has been introduced to protect employees and the public from the harmful effects of secondhand smoke.

Secondhand smoke is a serious health hazard, and there is no safe level of exposure. Every time someone breathes in secondhand smoke, they breathe in over 4,000 chemicals. Many are highly toxic. More than 50 are known to cause cancer. And, because 85% of secondhand smoke is invisible and odourless, even though you think your workplace, pub or club is not a particularly smoky place you may be at more risk than you realise.

Medical and scientific evidence shows that exposure to secondhand smoke increases the risk of serious medical conditions such as lung cancer, heart disease, asthma attacks, childhood respiratory disease, sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) and reduced lung function.

The penalties and fines for the smokefree offences set out in the Health Act 2006 are:

• Smoking in a smokefree premises or vehicle: a fixed penalty notice of £50 (discounted to £30 if paid within 15 days from the issue of a notice) or a fine by a court not exceeding level 1 on the standard scale (up to £200)
• Failure to display no smoking signs in smokefree premises and vehicles as required by the new law: a fixed penalty notice of £200 (discounted to £150 if paid within 15 days from the issue of a notice) or a fine by a court not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale (up to £1000)
• Failing to prevent smoking in a smokefree premises or vehicle: a fine by a court not exceeding level 4 on the standard scale (up to £2500)