Supporting policies and regulations to curb tobacco use

 

Thailand has a distinctive tobacco control model based on close cooperation between the Ministry of Public Health, the Thai Health Promotion Foundation, and a very active coalition of tobacco control non-governmental organizations guided by a unique generation of creative civil society leaders.

This model has allowed Thailand to implement a number of strong policy measures to protect the Thai population from the dangers of tobacco. Such measures include key approaches to reducing tobacco consumption, particularly in the areas of taxation, packaging and labeling, advertising bans, and smoke-free public areas. These measures have resulted in a gradual decline in smoking among both sexes and a subsequent decrease exposure to second-hand smoke among households. Despite decreasing trends, many challenges persist. Smoking rates remain high among adult men. A higher proportion of younger women are now smoking compared with their predecessors. Exposure to second-hand smoke is still high.