Issues Costa Rica
Tobacco harms the health, the treasury, and the spirit of Costa Rica. Every year, more than 1100 of its people are killed by tobacco-caused disease. Still, more than 3000 children (10-14 years old) and 216000 adults (15+ years old) continue to use tobacco eachday. Complacency in the face of the tobacco epidemic insulates the tobacco industry in Costa Rica and ensures that tobacco's deathtoll will grow every year. Tobacco control advocates must reach out to other communities and resources to strengthen their effortsand create change.
Adult Smoking (15+ Y.O.)
% using tobacco daily: 2015
Male
8.7%Even though fewer men smoke on averagein Costa Rica than on average in high-HDIcountries, there are still more than 161500men who smoke cigarettes each day,making it an ongoing and dire public healththreat.
Female
2.9%Even though fewer women smoke in CostaRica than on average in high-HDI countries,there are still more than 54400 womenwho smoke cigarettes each day, making itan ongoing and dire public health threat.
Children Smoking (10-14 Y.O.)
% using tobacco daily: 2015
Boys
1.08%Even though fewer boys smoke in Costa Ricathan on average in high-HDI countries, thereare still more than 1900 boys who smokecigarettes each day, making it an ongoing anddire public health threat.
Girls
0.99%More girls smoke in Costa Rica than onaverage in high-HDI countries.
Deaths% caused by tobacco: 2016
Male
7.02%Even though fewer men die from tobacco inCosta Rica than on average in high-HDIcountries, tobacco still kills 16 men everyweek, necessitating action frompolicymakers.
Female
3.69%Even though fewer women die from tobaccoin Costa Rica than on average in high-HDIcountries, tobacco still kills 7 women everyweek, necessitating action frompolicymakers.
Societal Harms
The economic cost of smoking in Costa Rica amounts to 64228million colon. This includes direct costs related to healthcareexpenditures and indirect costs related to lost productivity dueto early mortality and morbidity.
Smokeless Tobacco% using tobacco daily: 2013
0.1% Even though fewer people use smokeless tobaccoon average in Costa Rica than on average in high-HDI countries, 3700 people still currently usesmokeless tobacco, indicating an ongoing publichealth challenge, including heightened levels of oralcancers.
Industry
The combined revenues of the world's 6 largest tobaccocompanies in 2016 was more than USD 346 Billion, 535% largerthan the Gross National Income of Costa Rica. The industry is apowerful force that does not fear the actions of nation-statesbecause of their extensive resources and global market power.
Growing
There were less than 1000metric tons of tobacco producedin Costa Rica in 2014. Tobaccogrowing is only a small fractionof agriculture in Costa Rica, withonly less than 0.01% ofagricultural land devoted totobacco cultivation.
Production
There were 1.03billion cigarettesproduced in CostaRica in 2016.
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Solutions Costa Rica
Current Policy in Costa RicaProtect from Smoke
All public places completely smoke-free isthe best practice
Smokefree
HealthCare Facilities Educational Facilities
Universities Government Facilities
Indoor Offices Restaurants
Pubs and Bars Public Transport
All Other Indoor PublicPlaces
Funds for SmokefreeEnforcement
Raise Taxes
WHO BenchmarkMinimum
70%of Retail Priceis Excise Tax
Costa Rica
44.81%of Retail Priceis Excise Tax
Offer HelpNational quit line and both NRT and cessation-services cost-covered is the best practice
Quitting Resources NRT and/or some cessation services (at least one of which is cost-covered)
National Quitline No
Warn About the Dangers to Tobacco Users on Product PackagingA plain, standardized pack with a large health warning is the best practice
Type of Warning Label Graphic
Percent of Pack Covered 50%
Plain Packaging No
Warn About the Dangers to the Whole Population in a Media Campaign
Ran a National Anti-Tobacco Campaign in 2014 or 2016 Yes
Appropriate Characteristics
Part Of A Comprehensive Tobacco Control Program Yes
Pre-Tested With The Target Audience Yes
Target Audience Research Was Conducted Yes
Aired On Television And/Or Radio Yes
Utilized Media Planning Yes
Earned Media/Public Relations Were Used To Promote The Campaign Yes
Process Evaluation Was Used To Assess Implementation Yes
Outcome Evaluation Was Used To Assess Effectiveness No
Enforce Bans on AdvertisingBan on all forms of direct and indirect advertising is the best practice
Number of DirectAd Bans
7/7possible bans
Number ofIndirect Ad Bans
7/10possible bans
Ad Ban Compliance Percent
Moderate
Direct bans
• National TV and radio• International TV and radio• Local magazines andnewspapers• International magazinesand newspapers• Billboard and outdooradvertising• Advertising at point of sale• Advertising on internet
Indirect bans
• Non-tobacco products identified with tobacco brand names• Brand name of non-tobacco products used for tobacco product• Appearance in TV and/or films: tobacco brands (product placement)• Appearance in TV and/or films: tobacco products• Complete ban on sponsorship• Any form of contribution (financial or other support) to any event,activity or individual• Ban on the publicity of financial or other sponsorship or support bythe tobacco industry of events, activities, individuals
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