Issues Venezuela

Tobacco harms the health, the treasury, and the spirit of Venezuela. Every year, more than 17300 of its people are killed bytobacco-caused disease. Still, more than 20000 children (10-14 years old) and 2963000 adults (15+ years old) continue to usetobacco each day. Complacency in the face of the tobacco epidemic insulates the tobacco industry in Venezuela and ensuresthat tobacco's death toll will grow every year. Tobacco control advocates must reach out to other communities and resources tostrengthen their efforts and create change.

Adult Smoking (15+ Y.O.)

% using tobacco daily: 2015

Male

16.7%Even though fewer men smoke onaverage in Venezuela than on average inhigh-HDI countries, there are still morethan 1840700 men who smoke cigaretteseach day, making it an ongoing and direpublic health threat.

Female

9.9%More women smoke in Venezuela than onaverage in high-HDI countries.

Children Smoking (10-14 Y.O.)

% using tobacco daily: 2015

Boys

0.82%Even though fewer boys smoke in Venezuelathan on average in high-HDI countries, thereare still more than 11900 boys who smokecigarettes each day, making it an ongoing anddire public health threat.

Girls

0.63%More girls smoke in Venezuela than onaverage in high-HDI countries.

Deaths% caused by tobacco: 2016

Male

11.1%Even though fewer men die from tobaccoin Venezuela than on average in high-HDIcountries, tobacco still kills 208 men everyweek, necessitating action frompolicymakers.

Female

10.08%Even though fewer women die fromtobacco in Venezuela than on average inhigh-HDI countries, tobacco still kills 124women every week, necessitating actionfrom policymakers.

Societal Harms

The economic cost of smoking in Venezuela amounts to 11818million bolivar. This includes direct costs related to healthcareexpenditures and indirect costs related to lost productivitydue to early mortality and morbidity.

Smokeless Tobacco% using tobacco daily: 2013

3.6% More people use smokeless tobacco inVenezuela than on average in high-HDIcountries.

Industry

n/a

Growing

There were 5047 metrictons of tobacco producedin Venezuela in 2014.However, tobaccogrowing is only a smallfraction of agriculture inVenezuela, with only0.01% of agricultural landdevoted to tobaccocultivation.

Production

There were 10.24billion cigarettesproduced in Venezuelain 2016. Cigaretteimports exceededcigarette exports inVenezuela in 2016,which hurt thecountry's tradebalance.

ta6.org/country/venezuela

Solutions Venezuela

Current Policy in VenezuelaProtect 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

Venezuela

67.57%of Retail Priceis Excise Tax

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

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 65%

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 No

Appropriate Characteristics

Part Of A Comprehensive Tobacco Control Program n/a

Pre-Tested With The Target Audience n/a

Target Audience Research Was Conducted n/a

Aired On Television And/Or Radio n/a

Utilized Media Planning n/a

Earned Media/Public Relations Were Used To Promote The Campaign n/a

Process Evaluation Was Used To Assess Implementation n/a

Outcome Evaluation Was Used To Assess Effectiveness n/a

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

Number of DirectAd Bans

3/7possible bans

Number ofIndirect Ad Bans

2/10possible bans

Ad Ban CompliancePercent

High

Direct bans

• National TV and radio• International TV and radio• Billboard and outdooradvertising

Indirect bans

• Free distribution in mail or through other means• Promotional discounts

ta6.org/country/venezuela