Smoking in South Africa
In South Africa, the current prevalence of tobacco smoking among adults aged 15 years and older was recorded to be 23.3% in 2024. In comparison, this prevalence was 20.2% in 2020 and 20.7% in 2019. Gender-specific data from 2024 indicate that 39.3% of males and 8.5% of females were tobacco smokers, illustrating a significant gender disparity 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 2021, with males experiencing a higher percentage (5.75%) compared to females (2.86%). The annual number of smoking-related deaths in 2021 was 32,442, including 22,817 males and 9,625 females. Additionally, 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
November 26, 2020 by sundayworld.co.za
Taxing vapes should be handled with care, experts say
Johannesburg – Imposing excise on vapour products in a country like South Africa could prove detrimental, instead encouraging the kind of illicit trade that was seen for contraband cigarettes during the COVID-19 hard lockdown, Vapour Products Association of South Africa (VPASA) has warned.
The warning came from the Vaping Conversations series, hosted by VPASA, by Arshad Abba, a partner at management consultancy Quantum Logik Consulting and the lead on the 2018 Canback study on vaping and its economic impact in South Africa.
October 28, 2020 by businesstech.co.za
Tobacco group wants government to set a minimum price for cigarettes in South Africa
As South Africa prepares for finance minister Tito Mboweni’s medium-term budget speech this week, it is becoming increasingly clear that the country needs a new post-Covid-19 approach to the tobacco industry, says Zacharia Motsumi, [...]
The alliance represents approximately 11,000 tobacco farmers, processors and manufacturers across five growing provinces who are committed to supporting transformation in the industry.
Motsumi said that if drastic action is not taken soon, the more than 150 black tobacco farmers who are struggling to make a living in rural South Africa will soon go out of business.
October 21, 2020 by thesouthafrican.com
Smokers in SA face new restrictions – including a ‘public cigarette ban’
Cabinet is prepared to table its new Control of Tobacco Products and Electronic Delivery Systems Bill, which is likely to dramatically change things for smokers in South Africa. As well as extending its reach to the vaping industry, the threat of a ‘public cigarette ban’ also looms large. Back in May – and during the middle of controversial nationwide cigarette ban – Deputy Health Minister Joe Phaahla confirmed that several alterations would be made so the government could better regulate the tobacco industry. It’s since been reported that the Bill will be sent forward for processing ‘before the end of the year’, [...]
September 11, 2020 by dailymaverick.co.za
Women and tobacco: Young girls and women of all ages should be concerned
Women and children exposed to tobacco are more likely than men to develop coronary heart disease over their lifetimes — as well as chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases. Additionally, exposure to tobacco through smoking or passive smoking imposes female-specific health concerns for women and children. Pregnant women and their unborn babies are also at risk of tobacco harm.
Men remain the majority of smokers: the 2016 South African Demographics Survey shows that more men smoke than women, with 8% of women older than 15 using tobacco products, while 37% of men do. [...]
August 21, 2020 by capetalk.co.za
Anti-smoking group urges govt to pass Tobacco Control Bill into law
The National Council Against Smoking (NCAS) says the government must act quickly to pass the Tobacco Control Bill, which imposes a 100% ban on smoking in public areas.
The NCAS and other health groups have urged the government to finalise the bill, after the ban on tobacco products was lifted this week.
The draft Control of Tobacco and Electronic Delivery Systems Bill was first approved by Cabinet in 2018, and given a stamp of approval by the World Health Organisation (WHO).
August 19, 2020 by bbc.com
South Africa: Queues as ban on alcohol and cigarettes ends
For the first time in weeks, South Africans are allowed to buy alcohol and cigarettes as the government relaxes lockdown restrictions introduced to curb the spread of coronavirus.
Long queues of eager customers formed outside shops just hours after the new rules came into effect.
The government said it had eased the lockdown because South Africa was seeing a decline in coronavirus cases.
It has recorded the highest number of cases and deaths in Africa.
More than 500,000 infections and 11,000 deaths related to Covid-19 have been reported in the country.
April 20, 2020 by youtube.com
COVID-19 Lockdown | Impact of coronavirus on smokers: Prof Guy Richards
Police minister Bheki Cele has said that no shop will be allowed to sell cigarettes during the national lockdown, as they are non-essential. He was responding to the Western Cape government's decision to lift the ban on the sale of cigarettes, emphasizing that they may only be sold together with essential goods. [...] We are joined via Skype by Emeritus Professor of Critical Care at Wits University, Prof Guy Richards.
April 08, 2020 by citizen.co.za
Local inventor hopes his ‘plastic cigarette’ will help smokers to quit
With the unexpected lockdown announcement that cigarettes would no longer be for sale, many smokers have had to suddenly go cold turkey over this month, and the looming possibility of an extension to the lockdown means many more might be affected once their stocks run out.
Curban Urge, a small plastic, flute-like prop being marketed by local inventor and artist Darren Aiken, may help to ease some people through at least one part of the craving by mimicking some of the physical actions and effects of smoking, but without any of the harmful smoke.
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. [...]