Iceland to consider outlawing sales of cigarettes in stores

The Iceland Parliament is ready to consider a bill that would make it illegal to sell cigarettes in convenience stores. According to the bill only pharmacies would be permitted to sale tobacco to individuals aged 21 and up and only with a valid medical prescription.

The drastic measure is part of a 10-year move that as well intends to prohibit smoking in all public venues, including outdoor places and vehicles. Iceland is also considering options to follow Australia’s steps by requiring all tobacco products to be sold in plain uniform packaging with large health warnings on them.

According to the present law, doctors will encourage smokers to quit with specialized treatments and education. They would prescribe tobacco products only in case the treatments are not effective.
The radical bill is sponsored by ex Minister of Public Health Siv Fridleifsdottir, who cooperated with the Iceland Medical Association and anti-tobacco organizations and advocates to draft the proposed legislation. Mrs. Fridleifsdottir said in a statement that the main aim of the bill in to protect adolescents from dangers of smoking and prevent them from starting to smoke. She added that the measure would initially lead to a growth of prices on cigarettes, but the 10% growth per year corresponds with World Health Organization convention, as evidence demonstrates that 10% price hike leads to 10% decrease in smoking.

By the end of the 10-year move, cigarettes sold only by prescription would virtually cost less than ever, said Thorarinn Gudnason, director of the Iceland Society of Cardiology, who worked with Fridleifsdottir on drawing up the bill.
"According to our bill, smokers who receive prescriptions would be diagnosed with addiction, and the government would not tax addicts."

The present measure also suggests that nicotine must be classified as an addictive and dangerous substance. "It is equally difficult to quit using nicotine as heroin and other drugs, not basing on the adverse effects, but basing on the presence of cravings and how rapid people become addicted to it," stated Gudnason.
"We also call on the government to certify cigarettes like a drug, which would presuppose they would be subject the same rigid tests as all others drug,” said Gudnason. I don’t think cigarettes would ever make it to the market now as everyone is aware about the side-effects – such as cancer, emphysema, heart attacks, and other severe health complications.

The bill also states that tobacco smoke must be regarded as a carcinogenic chemical, and consequently restricted similarly to all other carcinogens, due to health impact of passive smoking.
A spokesperson for the Ministry of Welfare declared last week that the bill "very serious" but was not likely to be adopted.
Iceland has successfully managed to halve smoking rates during the last 20 years. In 1991, 30% of adult population was smokers; in 2010 that rate represented 15%, being the lowest rate in European Union.