A new parliamentary motion put forth to the Icelandic Althingi calls for the sale of tobacco products to be restricted solely to registered pharmacies.
Former health minister Siv Fridleifsdottir is the main architect of the resolution.
Under the proposed new law, Iceland would become one of the first countries in the world to restrict access to tobacco products by removing them from general sale. Tobacco sales in supermarkets, corner shops, petrol stations, on aeroplanes and at duty free stores would be banned. Tobacco would then only be sold at pharmacies with special tobacco licences.
The motion’s authors propose the strict controls because tobacco is an addictive drug and a cancer-causing poison.
The MPs also propose that after ten years tobacco sales in pharmacies should be hindered further by requiring customers to obtain a sort of tobacco prescription from their doctor. Tobacco would therefore still be legally available to those few people who cannot or do not want to quit smoking. The idea would be for doctors to assess the level of a patients’ nicotine addiction and to have tried alternative therapies with them before writing a tobacco prescription. This would restrict tobacco solely to those with proven addictions who either cannot or will not quit, Visir reports.
As well as Siv Fridleifsdottir (Progressive Party), the motion is also brought by Thuridur Backman (Left Greens), Asta R. Johannesdottir (Social Democrats), Arni Johnsen (Independence Party), Margret Tryggvadottir (The Movement), Alfheidur Ingadottir (Left Greens), Thor Saari (The Movement), Olina Thorvardardottir (Social Democrats) and Eyglo Hardardottir (Progressive Party).
It is a good thing for the State to wind down the destructive tobacco industry.
[…] another topic, iceland seems to be ready to ban tobacco. Siv Fridleifsdottir, former health minister, asked the Alþingi to debate the interdiction to […]
Welcome brave new world. Is Iceland part of the puritan movement now or still?
That is more than sad to interfere in citizens rights, to control and observe your people and to argue about health all the time. Sad, sad….
Iceland and its smoke…
http://acartoonaday.blogspot.com/2011/05/islandia.html
hey guys this is another control of the goverment to get all the tax from tabaco ya just put them in some apotec control the money that is what they are going … controling your life … tax more tax and more tax … we dont have the voice anymore abut this things … thing abut this you guys put this persons in power … you no what. iff this going to bee like that were is your freedonw we gonna start live like rats in the lab part of some experience. thats is they call democracy… i call communism they take evrything from you …. iceland is a beutifull country and the icelandic persons they are lovely but this goverment and this sell proclaim partys they are the cancer of this country …. my name is nelson and in not afraid to speak i am a smoker yes i am …. i pay tax the same was you ho dont smoke but i dont want to survive i want to live and this stupid laws are taking my freedonw way from me and maybe from you to thing just for 1 sec…. thanks
If this proposed law will be approved, then definitely there is reduction of tobacco addiction among citizens. Not bad.
Then I agree also with Mr.Non-Smoker, in an open society, it is very hard to restrict people even if it is for their own benefit. Its their freedom to choose their life would be.
Jeremy
[…] Under the proposed new law, Iceland would Read more at IceNews – Daily News […]
Nanny state anyone ?
Next thing they will say we can’t wear certain clothes or eat fatty foods, whats up with this impediments on peoples lives and happiness ?
If we are an open society then why do we try to restrict peoples freedom on how they want to live ?