The Society also commended the Minster of Health, Hon Anthony Eden, for presenting the White Paper to the Legislative Assembly (LA) this month.

The CICS pointed out that tobacco legislation is not a new concept. It has been enacted in countries including Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand and Cuba. In addition, parts of the United States, including Hawaii, have laws governing tobacco.

Many of the countries who have enacted legislation over the past three years are signatories to the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, which is the world’s first global public health treaty.

The proposed legislation will mean that the Cayman Islands will join the ranks of the United Kingdom, as well as other overseas Dependent Territories such as Bermuda and the British Virgin Islands (BVI), in having comprehensive legislation governing the promotion, sale and use of tobacco products.

According to the CICS, scientific evidence unequivocally proves that there is no safe tobacco product and that the use of these products will impact a person’s health - if not immediately, then at some time in the future.

Their evidence also states that exposure to second-hand smoke is potentially deadly and can impact a non-smoker’s health, including that of an unborn foetus. Ventilation is not the solution – it may remove the smell and the sight of smoke, but not the carcinogens and other toxic substances in the air.

In the United States, it is estimated that smoking-related illnesses cost more than $184 billion each year.

Approximately half of this is in medical expenditures and the other half on indirect costs such as days lost from work.

For every person that dies from smoking, 20 more people suffer from a serious tobacco-related disease. According to medical sources, the use of tobacco products is the single most avoidable cause of disease, disability and death.

The CICS strongly supports the introduction of regulations governing the buying and selling of tobacco by minors and the proposed regulation that tobacco is sold in specified quantities. This will hopefully outlaw the practice of selling single cigarettes, a practice that increases access to children and other vulnerable groups.

The CICS also supports the proposal to ban the use of tobacco products within ten feet of all entrances, windows and other points of access to buildings, and is recommending that this distance be increased to a minimum of 25 feet.

They pointed out that, in other jurisdictions such as the British Virgin Islands where it is 50 feet, the distance is often greater.

The CICS encourages the Government to remain resolute in the face of any opposition that would weaken this legislation in any way. They would like them to follow the lead of countries such as Scotland, Ireland and Bermuda and grant no concessions to specialist tobacco retailers and smoking rooms, such as cigar bars.

They said that scientific studies have shown that the dangers presented to cigar smokers are no less serious then to cigarette smokers and are concerned for the health of all Caymanians.

The CICS claims that the vast majority of persons in the Cayman Islands, whether they are Caymanians, expatriates or visitors, are non-smokers.

They say studies show that smoking bans do not have any negative impact on businesses and in fact many businesses have seen an increase in revenues and a decrease in operating costs.

The CICS supports the Bill as it is written, but with the banning of tobacco use widened to cover all areas within 25 feet of all building entrances.