Anti-tobacco measures are supported by Russians; however the attitudes towards them are rather ambiguous.
MOSCOW, February 20, 2013. Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) presents the data describing how Russians evaluate the anti-smoking bill, and what consequences they expect.
Proposed anti-smoking measures are basically approved by Russians. They support the ban on all forms of tobacco advertising and tobacco companies’ sponsorship (79%), as well as the ban on smoking in public places (76%); they also support the government regulation of minimum and maximum prices on cigarettes (74%), ban on selling cigarettes by piece and selling them from vending machine (69%). Least popular measures are as follows: ban on selling cigarettes in kiosks and stalls (60%), laying them out in the shop windows (59%), smoking images in motion pictures and theatre (56%), selling tobacco in transport, in the hotels et cet. (55%).
Russians are divided in their opinion on the consequences of anti-tobacco measures. Some believe that these measures will reduce the number of smoking people in the country (47%; other do not think so (46%). Those who expect a positive effect are elderly respondents (58%), Russians with high level of education (51%), and those who do not smoke (56%). They are opposed by young respondents (51%), Russians with low level of education (54%), and smokers (62%).
Russians have different attitudes towards smoking: 45% of respondents support smoking; however, 49% say that the new law is too harsh, and it will not reduce smoking but rather increase corruption and additional budget spending. Those who share this point of view are residents of million cities (54%), elderly respondents (60%) and non-smokers (61%); they are opposed by residents of middle cities (59%), 18-24-year-old and 35-44-year-ild Russians (57-58%), and smokers themselves (75%).
The initiative Russian opinion polls were conducted on February 9-10, 2013. 1600 respondents were interviewed at 138 sampling points in 46 regions of Russia. The margin of error does not exceed 3.4%.
Which of the following measures do you support, and which - not? (close-ended question, one answer per each measure) | |||
| September 2011 | February 2013 | |
Ban on smoking in public places (workplaces, transport, train station, airports, hotels, cafes, night clubs, parks) | Rather support | 81 | 76 |
Rather not support | 15 | 20 | |
Hard to tell | 3 | 4 | |
Ban on selling cigarettes by piece and from vending machines | Rather support | 73 | 69 |
Rather not support | 21 | 26 | |
Hard to tell | 6 | 6 | |
Ban on laying out cigarettes in shop windows. Consumer can only use special catalogs | Rather support | 60 | 59 |
Rather not support | 34 | 35 | |
Hard to tell | 6 | 6 | |
Ban on all types of tobacco advertising and tobacco companies` sponsorship (distribution of free cigarettes, discounts, candies, toys, other products resembling cigarettes or having tobacco industry logos or colors) | Rather support | 82 | 79 |
Rather not support | 14 | 18 | |
Hard to tell | 4 | 4 | |
Ban on showing smoking in motion pictures, theatres. Old production should be accompanied by social advertising about harmful effects of smoking * | Rather support | 60 | 56 |
Rather not support | 33 | 39 | |
Hard to tell | 8 | 5 | |
Ban on selling cigarettes in kiosks and stalls. Tobacco can only be purchased in shops and trade pavilions excepting rural area where shops do not exist ** | Rather support | 61 | 60 |
Rather not support | 35 | 35 | |
Hard to tell | 4 | 5 | |
Minimal and maximum price for cigarettes should be set by the government. The seller can set the price only within these limits | Rather support | 53 | 74 |
Rather not support | 41 | 20 | |
Hard to tell | 6 | 6 | |
Ban on selling cigarettes in train stations and bus terminals, in airports (exception: duty free zones), ports, metro stations, hotels et cet. | Rather support | - | 55 |
Rather not support | - | 38 | |
Hard to tell | - | 7 | |
*In 2011 the following measure was proposed for evaluation: ban on showing smoking people in movies and theater
**In 2011 the following measure was proposed for evaluation: ban on selling cigarettes in kiosks and stalls, tobacco can only be purchased in large trade areas outlets
***In 2011 the following measure was proposed for evaluation: setting the minimal retail price for cigarettes at the level higher than the current one
In your opinion, will the anti-tobacco measures reduce the number of smokers in Russia, or not? (close-ended question, one answer) | |||
Total respondents | Smokers | Non-smokers | |
Rather yes | 47 | 33 | 56 |
Rather no | 46 | 62 | 35 |
Hard to tell | 7 | 5 | 8 |
Some people believe that this law is not needed in Russia, as the measures proposed are too harsh and will not be followed. Others believe that such a law must be as harsh as possible; otherwise it will not make the smokers quit smoking. How do you think? (close-ended question, one answer) | |||
Total respondents | Smokers | Non-smokers | |
I am against such a harsh law. It will not help fighting against smoking, but rather cause additional budget spending and corruption | 49 | 75 | 32 |
I support this law. Even if people do not obey this law in the beginning, as time goes by they will get used to it and start living without tobacco | 45 | 20 | 61 |
Hard to tell | 6 | 5 | 7 |
Note: Using materials from the site www.wciom.ru or wciom.com, as well as distributed by VCIOM, the reference to the source (or hyperlink for the electronic media) is obligatory!