● <B>Why is IT necessary to amend the Tobacco and Alcohol legislation?</B>

In view of the national priority, which is to reduce non-communicable diseases, the government has decided to change the laws on Tobacco and Alcohol. It is in accordance with the World Health Organization (WHO) to develop a comprehensive and integrated multi-sector approach to address the increasing problem of substance abuse, tobacco and alcohol, especially among the youth.

● <B> What are the steps considered in this legislation? </B>

This legislation is considering many amendments to the existing laws: for tobacco; banning adverts, increasing excise duties on tobacco, and promoting smoke-free areas such as gardens, outdoor cafés, bars and restaurants. As for alcohol, there will be a control on new permits for licensed premises and limiting opening hours of bars and banning the use of adverts for alcoholic drinks.

● <B> What are the reasons for such strict measures? </B>

40.3% of the admissions Brown Sequard Mental Health Care Center are due to alcohol-related problems, says the minister of Health and Quality of life. New statistics shows that 90% of those who have died of cardiovascular and lung diseases were smokers. Furthermore, the WHO declared that the harmful use of alcohol caused 2.3 million premature deaths in 2002. Thus, these measures are based on the upsurge of smokers, who according to the WHO, will be 1.7 billion by 2025.

● <B>What do those involved have to say about the amendments ? </B>

Jayen Chellum and Véronique Le Clezio are for the complete ban of publicity on alcoholic drinks and have advised the government to reject all proposals made by tobacco industries to maintain their commercial aspect. On the other hand, Rama Poonoosamy, president of Advertising agencies, says that they should be allowed to continue with the publicity of alcoholic drinks as they can use those adverts to warn the public of the dangers of alcohol.