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Kuwaiti official advocates selective taxes to combat smoking

The Vice President of the National Program for Combating Smoking and Director of the Medical Emergency Department at the Ministry of Health, Dr. Ahmed Al-Shatti, emphasized the critical role of selective taxes on tobacco products. He highlighted that such taxes are a strategic tool in the fight against smoking and are essential for improving public health outcomes.

Al-Shatti informed Al-Jarida that the economic cost of tobacco in Kuwait reaches 419 million dinars annually, driven by both the direct and indirect effects of smoking. He explained that imposing selective taxes on tobacco products is a highly effective strategy in combating smoking. Such taxes offer multiple benefits, including reducing consumption, improving public health, increasing government revenues, encouraging smoking cessation, reducing healthcare burdens, and raising awareness about the dangers of smoking.

Reduce Consumption

Al-Shatti explained that imposing taxes on tobacco products helps reduce consumption by increasing prices, which in turn decreases demand, particularly among young people and teenagers.

Importantly, this reduction in tobacco use leads to significant public health improvements, as it lowers the prevalence of smoking-related diseases, ultimately contributing to a healthier population and an increase in life expectancy.

Al-Shatti stated that imposing selective taxes on tobacco products increases government revenues, which can be allocated to finance public health initiatives, such as awareness campaigns and smoking cessation programs.

Also, the higher cost of cigarettes due to these taxes can serve as an incentive for smokers to consider quitting, further contributing to efforts to reduce smoking rates.

Al-Shatti highlighted that imposing taxes on tobacco products helps reduce health burdens by decreasing the number of smokers, ultimately lowering healthcare costs associated with treating smoking-related diseases. This, in turn, benefits the overall health system. He also explained that such taxes can raise awareness about the dangers of smoking, fostering broader discussions within society about its negative impact.

Smoking Rates

Al-Shatti shared the latest statistical data in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO), revealing that the smoking rate in Kuwait stands at 20.5% among adults.

The percentage is notably higher among males at 39.2%, while it remains lower for females at 3.3%. Among adolescents aged 13 to 15 years, the smoking rate is 15.4%, with boys at 23.2% and girls at 8.3%.

The age group most vulnerable to smoking in Kuwait is between 30 and 40 years, followed by the 18 to 29-year age group.

It is noteworthy that Noura Al-Fassam, the Minister of Finance and Minister of State for Economic Affairs and Investment, revealed that the Ministry of Finance will soon begin preparing the “selective tax law.” This law will target goods that are harmful to health and is expected to generate non-oil revenues of approximately 200 million dinars annually.



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