[Intl-tobacco] South Africa Anti-smoking Group Praises Tobacco Tax In Budget (fwd)

[Robert Weissman]

BUDGET-ANTISMOKING: Anti-smoking Group Praises Tobacco Tax In Budget
Source: ANC News Briefing (Omar Jadwat), Thursday, 2/24/00

JOHANNESBURG 23 February 2000 Sapa

    Added taxes on cigarettes will save lives, reduce health care costs
and raise government revenues, National Council Against Smoking
executive director Yussuf (CORRECT) Saloojee said in praise of the
budget speech on Wednesday.

He said the falling demand for cigarettes over the past eight years
had been a direct result of government policy and taxes had been a
cornerstone of this approach.

"By stimulating people to quit, those who already smoke to cut down
and stop those who might start there will be 840,000 fewer deaths
from cancer, heart attacks and lung disease," Saloojee said.

Saloojee added that in spite of the increase in tobacco costs,
cigarettes remained less expensive in South Africa than in many
other countries where 60 to 80 percent of retail prices were
committed to taxes.