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World No Tobacco; Increase Tax on Tobacco, Nicotine Products

May 31, 2023
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The government has been urged to increase taxes on Tobacco, Nicotine products, and Alcohol beverages and reduce taxation on basic commodities.

Speaking during the marking of World No Tobacco Day, Tobacco Control and Health Promotion Alliance (TCHPA) Chair Joel Gitali said it’s hypocritical that the government is imposing high taxes on basic commodities while things like Tobacco that they do not need are not heavily taxed.

“The government MUST stop levying high taxes on essential commodities that people use such fuel and power and instead tax heavily Tobacco and Nicotine products and Alcoholic products,” Gitali stated.

He emphasized that it is ironic for the leaders in government to claim to be spiritual and cannot increase the taxes for Tobacco, Nicotine, and Alcoholic drinks.

“What we are seeing now is ironical and hypocritical because the government is led by those claiming to be Christians and spiritual but they are favorably taxing tobacco and heavily taxing goods that help the common citizens,” he added.

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Gitali urged that Alcohol and Nicotine can raise good revenue because no matter the price the users still strive to get and consume them.

The Tobacco-free advocate stated that high taxing of Tobacco, Nicotine products, and Alcohol will save the youths from indulging in the consuming because they will shy from buying due to high prices.

World No Tobacco Day 2023 was themed “We Want Food Not Tobacco” which urges individuals and governments to take concrete actions towards creating food security as we strive to achieve a smoke-free future.

Read Also:TCHPA: Retain Annual Inflation Adjustment, Increase of Tax on Tobacco Products

In Kenya, the Day was marked at the Kenya Cultural Centre led by youths who used Artistic skills, Spoken words, and Music to pass the message that the world needs Food and not Tobacco.

Gitali stated that the involvement of the youth in passing the message makes it easy to pass the message to every generation.

The best-performing youths were awarded Trophies and cash prizes.

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