An anti-smoking advocate demonstrating in Armenia.
YEREVAN (RFE/RL) ”“ On Thursday””as part of a new strategy to curb tobacco use””the Armenian government announced plans to restrict smoking in public places and raise cigarette prices.
Prime Minister Karen Karapetyan’s cabinet approved the program, which aims to reduce the large number of smokers in the country by at least 1.5 percent annually for the next three years.
According to estimates from Armenia’s Ministry of Health, over 25 percent of adult Armenians smoke on a daily basis. The smoking rate is especially high among men at 55 percent.
Health Minister Levon Altunyan told reporters that the anti-tobacco strategy outlines wide-ranging measures meant to cut these numbers. He said the authorities will “toughen”
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