Age of Egyptian smokers dropped to 10 years old: Minister

[DJKeefy]

Egypt's Minister of Social Solidarity said Tuesday that the starting age of smokers has dropped down to 10 years old, Al-Ahram's Arabic news website reported.

Ghada Wali said during the Anti-Addiction Conference that the percentage of the Egyptian population smoking cigarettes has gone up by 5 percent since 2009 to 24 percent in 2013.

Wali also said the average personal spending on smoking amounts to nearly LE 200 ($28) per month. She said more than 60 percent of smokers are young adults who have just begun their careers.

The prices of local cigarettes increased by an average of 22 percent Monday after a presidential decree raising sales tax on local and imported cigarettes.

Imported brands witnessed the same increases as well as a 50 percent increase in its retail price.

Source: http://english.ahram.org.eg/News/105750.aspx

[Bullet Magnet]

I don't know about these Egyptian kids, I have not seen any young ones smoking, but my cat is a real badass...

[Chocolate Eclair]

Should provide the coffers with more tax income!!

[Bullet Magnet]

It will do that Choccy, and it will also make the people poorer.
Sad thing is with governments is they think they can either tax their way out of a problem, ( **usually one they create in order to justify the tax hike ) or, make a new law and it will all go away.

**How many 10 year olds have you seen smoking in Egypt ?

[BENNU]

**How many 10 year olds have you seen smoking in Egypt ?

Many! And much younger, too. That is no news so I was confused by the headline! Seriously, I thought that it was the average age.

[Zooropa]

**How many 10 year olds have you seen smoking in Egypt ?

Many! And much younger, too. That is no news so I was confused by the headline! Seriously, I thought that it was the average age.

Did you really? So you also thought that no one over the age of about twenty smoked in Egypt?

[Bullet Magnet]

That really is a shame about the young kids, they should be outside running about and exploring and having fun, !
much seems to have changed since my last trip to Luxor 18 months ago.. But attempting to price people out of the smoking market wont help.
and in a Male Dominated market, you know it is the wife and kids that will have even less food to put on the table so the man of the house can still get his tobacco fix.
and lets face it, without a 9 - 5 job to go to for most men, where they would smoke a lot less overall, it does not make life very easy does it ?

still thats how governments work, demonise something, and get the masses behind them, then tax the living daylights out of it..

And people ask me why I take no interest in politics...

Governments, ? You mean "The Blind leading the Stupid"...

[carrie]

Passing Attah's one day a group of lads where sitting on the steps of a nearby hotel, none of them could have been more that 8 years of age, one of them asked me for a cigarette, I turned back and they all pointed out the guilty party. You I said you are a baby, laughter all round don't think he will be asking for a cigarette again too quickly.

[LovelyLadyLux]

What always continually amazes me is how a people living on wages that amount to a pittance can afford to smoke.

[BENNU]

**How many 10 year olds have you seen smoking in Egypt ?

Many! And much younger, too. That is no news so I was confused by the headline! Seriously, I thought that it was the average age.

Did you really? So you also thought that no one over the age of about twenty smoked in Egypt?

It was my spontaneous reaction to the headline, I did not sit down and calculate, sadly could not see the sensation, that is all.

[garfield4]

i need to go out for fags. gasping here. age 62. dont give a ****

[Zooropa]

Many! And much younger, too. That is no news so I was confused by the headline! Seriously, I thought that it was the average age.


It was my spontaneous reaction to the headline, I did not sit down and calculate, sadly could not see the sensation, that is all.

Well it was a sensation for me.

Obviously I have not been to Luxor as much as you and im shocked - never seen a single child smoking there - perhaps I should be more observant.

In light of the last debate re smoking where it was suggested that local Egyptians were far more respectful of non smokers than us ignorant Europeans, by several posters at least we Europeans can suggest at least as far as this is concerned, that we hold the moral high ground - I cant speak for the whole of Europe but certainly here in the UK - the idea that, for the most part (there will always be exceptions) parents would allow their children of ten and younger to smoke would be abhorrent.

And it would be - I would think they would run the risk of having social services knocking on their door.

I think it would be better if these Egyptian parents showed less respect for non smokers and a little more respect fot the well being of their children.

If, as you suggest in your post is correct and ive no reason to doubt you - then im truly appalled and its altered the way I think about Egyptians - at least the ones that allow this.

[LovelyLadyLux]

Bennu beat me to saying it and I'd of said it exactly as she replied - "MANY"

[Alistair1967]

Having seen boys outside Liverpool Lime St Station aged about 10 or younger some years ago, with cigs hanging out of their mouths, it comes as no surprise, sadly, to learn that the same thing is going in Egypt.

If I caught my 10 year old boy smoking - thankfully unlikely, I think - I don't know what I would do.

[Dusak]

Having seen boys outside Liverpool Lime St Station aged about 10 or younger some years ago, with cigs hanging out of their mouths, it comes as no surprise, sadly, to learn that the same thing is going in Egypt.

If I caught my 10 year old boy smoking - thankfully unlikely, I think - I don't know what I would do.

A smoker would ask him for one, or confiscate them and smoke them. Lead by example.

[Brian Yare]

What always continually amazes me is how a people living on wages that amount to a pittance can afford to smoke.

... and drink, ... and keep a dog.