Govt says tobacco ban a matter of public health
The government has for the first time published its comprehensive case for banning the sale of tobacco products during the lockdown, saying emerging research shows smoking leads to more severe cases of Covid-19.
The state laid out its arguments in court papers filed on Wednesday in a case brought against it by the Fair Trade Independent Tobacco Association (FITA), which wants the ban lifted.
FITA served government with court papers in early May to challenge the state's decision to retain the ban on the sale of cigarettes and tobacco product sales under Level 4 of the lockdown. When SA moves to Level 3 from next month, cigarettes will still be banned.
In the state's latest filing Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, says the ban was implemented to protect public health and decrease the potential strain on SA's health system.
Dlamini-Zuma argues that, while Covid-19 is a relatively new disease, early studies support the view that using tobacco products increases not only the risk of catching the disease but also the risk of contracting a more serious form of the disease.
"This, in turn, increases strain on the public health system, by increasing the number of people who will need access to resources such as intensive care unit beds and ventilators."
The minister also argues that the ban appears to have been successful in cutting cigarette use.
"A report by the Human Sciences Research Council indicates that 88% of smokers were not able to buy cigarettes during level 5 lockdown, suggesting that the temporary ban was effective in reducing access to cigarettes and usage thereof".
A UCT study from mid-May, meanwhile, found the ban had not been successful in cutting usage and was creating a lasting illicit tobacco market. The survey found that 90% of respondents had bought cigarettes during the lockdown.
Article Enquiry
Email Article
Save Article
Feedback
To advertise email advertising@creamermedia.co.za or click here
Research Reports
Projects
Latest Multimedia
Latest News
Showroom
Complete range of security sealing solutions including security seals bags and labels.
VISIT SHOWROOM
Sulzer South Africa, established in 1922, partners with critical industries like power, oil & gas, water, mining, and chemicals to boost...
VISIT SHOWROOM
Announcements
What's On
Subscribe to improve your user experience...
Option 1 (equivalent of R125 a month):
Receive a weekly copy of Creamer Media's Engineering News & Mining Weekly magazine
(print copy for those in South Africa and e-magazine for those outside of South Africa)
Receive daily email newsletters
Access to full search results
Access archive of magazine back copies
Access to Projects in Progress
Access to ONE Research Report of your choice in PDF format
Option 2 (equivalent of R375 a month):
All benefits from Option 1
PLUS
Access to Creamer Media's Research Channel Africa for ALL Research Reports, in PDF format, on various industrial and mining sectors
including Electricity; Water; Energy Transition; Hydrogen; Roads, Rail and Ports; Coal; Gold; Platinum; Battery Metals; etc.
Already a subscriber?
Forgotten your password?
Receive weekly copy of Creamer Media's Engineering News & Mining Weekly magazine (print copy for those in South Africa and e-magazine for those outside of South Africa)
➕
Recieve daily email newsletters
➕
Access to full search results
➕
Access archive of magazine back copies
➕
Access to Projects in Progress
➕
Access to ONE Research Report of your choice in PDF format
RESEARCH CHANNEL AFRICA
R4500 (equivalent of R375 a month)
SUBSCRIBEAll benefits from Option 1
➕
Access to Creamer Media's Research Channel Africa for ALL Research Reports on various industrial and mining sectors, in PDF format, including on:
Electricity
➕
Water
➕
Energy Transition
➕
Hydrogen
➕
Roads, Rail and Ports
➕
Coal
➕
Gold
➕
Platinum
➕
Battery Metals
➕
etc.
Receive all benefits from Option 1 or Option 2 delivered to numerous people at your company
➕
Multiple User names and Passwords for simultaneous log-ins
➕
Intranet integration access to all in your organisation
