Smoking in South Africa
In South Africa, cigarettes are legally allowed to be sold and used, but they are regulated with some restrictions. Tobacco advertising is regulated, but there is no comprehensive ban on all forms of advertising. The minimum legal age to buy cigarettes is 18 years, and health warnings on packaging are required. Cigarettes cannot be purchased online, but they are available through vending machines and other sales channels. Smoking is not fully restricted in all public places. The country applies a specific excise tax of 47.04%, contributing to a total taxation rate of 60.09% on cigarettes. The current prevalence of tobacco smoking among adults aged 15 years and older in South Africa, was recorded to be 23.3% in 2024. In comparison, this was 20.2% in 2020 and 20.7% in 2019. Data by gender from 2024 indicate that 39.3% of adult males and 8.5% of adult females were tobacco smokers, illustrating a significant gender differences in smoking habits. The total number of current smokers in 2024 was estimated to be 10.9 million individuals. The adult daily tobacco smoking prevalence in 2021 was 21.2%, with 35.1% among males and 8.3% among females. In terms of mortality, smoking accounted for 4.42% of all deaths in South Africa in 2021, and it led to 5.75% of male deaths compared to 2.86% of female deaths. The annual number of smoking-related deaths in 2021 was 32,442, including 22,817 males and 9,625 females. The number of smokers in 2022 was approximately 8,617,084, showing an increase from 8,323,703 smokers in 2020. These statistics represent the ongoing public health challenge posed by tobacco smoking in South Africa, emphasizing the need for targeted interventions to reduce smoking prevalence and related mortality.
Read articles from South Africa
April 02, 2020 by thesouthafrican.com
Boost for smokers: Western Cape lifts ‘lockdown ban’ on cigarette sales
Just days after the National Disaster Act outlawed the sale of cigarettes during our three-week lockdown period, the Western Cape government have relaxed this law almost entirely. They have confirmed on Wednesday that smokers will be allowed to get their ciggies, but there’s a small caveat… After the ban on purchasing cigarettes was lifted in several local districts, the entire Western Cape has decided to follow suit. A recently released statement explains that smokers can indeed get their fix, but they must only purchase tobacco if they’re also shopping for essential goods. [...]
February 27, 2020 by bloomberg.com
E-Cigarettes, Plastic Straws Next in South Africa’s Tax Sights
The South African government may start taxing e-cigarettes and plastic straws as it ramps up green and health taxes to boost revenue and change behavior. [...] The government will start taxing heated tobacco products immediately and intends to introduce a levy on electronic cigarettes next year. “Globally, policymakers are looking at regulating and taxing these products due to concerns about their health effect,” the Treasury said. [...]
May 07, 2018 by thesouthafrican.com
Smoking laws: Five huge changes proposed for South Africa
The proposed Control of Tobacco and Electronic Delivery Systems Bill has been opened up for public debate. Dramatic changes to South African smoking laws could soon become a reality, should the bill receive Parliamentary approval.
The changes are said to be in the interests of all South Africans and their health. However, smokers – and the tobacco industry itself – feel that the war against cigarettes has gone a step too far.
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