Issues Costa Rica

Tobacco harms the health, the treasury, and the spirit of Costa Rica. Every year, more than 1100 of its people are killed by tobacco-caused disease. Still, more than 3000 children (10-14 years old) and 216000 adults (15+ years old) continue to use tobacco eachday. Complacency in the face of the tobacco epidemic insulates the tobacco industry in Costa Rica and ensures that tobacco's deathtoll will grow every year. Tobacco control advocates must reach out to other communities and resources to strengthen their effortsand create change.

Adult Smoking (15+ Y.O.)

% using tobacco daily: 2015

Male

8.7%Even though fewer men smoke on averagein Costa Rica than on average in high-HDIcountries, there are still more than 161500men who smoke cigarettes each day,making it an ongoing and dire public healththreat.

Female

2.9%Even though fewer women smoke in CostaRica than on average in high-HDI countries,there are still more than 54400 womenwho smoke cigarettes each day, making itan ongoing and dire public health threat.

Children Smoking (10-14 Y.O.)

% using tobacco daily: 2015

Boys

1.08%Even though fewer boys smoke in Costa Ricathan on average in high-HDI countries, thereare still more than 1900 boys who smokecigarettes each day, making it an ongoing anddire public health threat.

Girls

0.99%More girls smoke in Costa Rica than onaverage in high-HDI countries.

Deaths% caused by tobacco: 2016

Male

7.02%Even though fewer men die from tobacco inCosta Rica than on average in high-HDIcountries, tobacco still kills 16 men everyweek, necessitating action frompolicymakers.

Female

3.69%Even though fewer women die from tobaccoin Costa Rica than on average in high-HDIcountries, tobacco still kills 7 women everyweek, necessitating action frompolicymakers.

Societal Harms

The economic cost of smoking in Costa Rica amounts to 64228million colon. This includes direct costs related to healthcareexpenditures and indirect costs related to lost productivity dueto early mortality and morbidity.

Smokeless Tobacco% using tobacco daily: 2013

0.1% Even though fewer people use smokeless tobaccoon average in Costa Rica than on average in high-HDI countries, 3700 people still currently usesmokeless tobacco, indicating an ongoing publichealth challenge, including heightened levels of oralcancers.

Industry

The combined revenues of the world's 6 largest tobaccocompanies in 2016 was more than USD 346 Billion, 535% largerthan the Gross National Income of Costa Rica. The industry is apowerful force that does not fear the actions of nation-statesbecause of their extensive resources and global market power.

Growing

There were less than 1000metric tons of tobacco producedin Costa Rica in 2014. Tobaccogrowing is only a small fractionof agriculture in Costa Rica, withonly less than 0.01% ofagricultural land devoted totobacco cultivation.

Production

There were 1.03billion cigarettesproduced in CostaRica in 2016.

ta6.org/country/costa-rica

Solutions Costa Rica

Current Policy in Costa RicaProtect from Smoke

All public places completely smoke-free isthe best practice

Smokefree

HealthCare Facilities Educational Facilities

Universities Government Facilities

Indoor Offices Restaurants

Pubs and Bars Public Transport

All Other Indoor PublicPlaces

Funds for SmokefreeEnforcement

Raise Taxes

WHO BenchmarkMinimum

70%of Retail Priceis Excise Tax

Costa Rica

44.81%of Retail Priceis Excise Tax

Offer HelpNational quit line and both NRT and cessation-services cost-covered is the best practice

Quitting Resources NRT and/or some cessation services (at least one of which is cost-covered)

National Quitline No

Warn About the Dangers to Tobacco Users on Product PackagingA plain, standardized pack with a large health warning is the best practice

Type of Warning Label Graphic

Percent of Pack Covered 50%

Plain Packaging No

Warn About the Dangers to the Whole Population in a Media Campaign

Ran a National Anti-Tobacco Campaign in 2014 or 2016 Yes

Appropriate Characteristics

Part Of A Comprehensive Tobacco Control Program Yes

Pre-Tested With The Target Audience Yes

Target Audience Research Was Conducted Yes

Aired On Television And/Or Radio Yes

Utilized Media Planning Yes

Earned Media/Public Relations Were Used To Promote The Campaign Yes

Process Evaluation Was Used To Assess Implementation Yes

Outcome Evaluation Was Used To Assess Effectiveness No

Enforce Bans on AdvertisingBan on all forms of direct and indirect advertising is the best practice

Number of DirectAd Bans

7/7possible bans

Number ofIndirect Ad Bans

7/10possible bans

Ad Ban Compliance Percent

Moderate

Direct bans

• National TV and radio• International TV and radio• Local magazines andnewspapers• International magazinesand newspapers• Billboard and outdooradvertising• Advertising at point of sale• Advertising on internet

Indirect bans

• Non-tobacco products identified with tobacco brand names• Brand name of non-tobacco products used for tobacco product• Appearance in TV and/or films: tobacco brands (product placement)• Appearance in TV and/or films: tobacco products• Complete ban on sponsorship• Any form of contribution (financial or other support) to any event,activity or individual• Ban on the publicity of financial or other sponsorship or support bythe tobacco industry of events, activities, individuals

ta6.org/country/costa-rica