Number of the week: How effective has Russia's anti-smoking campaign been?

The number of smokers in Russia has fallen by 17 percent during the course of the recent anti-tobacco campaign, the Russian Health Ministry's public health and communications department director, Oleg Salagai, said on Feb. 1."Over the period of the active anti-tobacco campaign, the number of smokers in our country has been reduced by approximately 17 percent, according to independent estimates," he said.The anti-tobacco campaign was launched in June 2013. In Nov. 2013 it was made illegal to promote cigarettes via advertising, and in summer 2014 smoking was banned in public places (hotels, trains, cafes etc.).Around 40 million Russians smoke, or about a third of the population.A study of TV series for the younger generation conducted by public organizations in 2011-2015 showed a decline in the percentage of TV series with characters who smoke from 40 percent in 2011 to 17 percent in 2014. The total smoking time in episodes decreased from 75 minutes in 2011 to 37 minutes in 2014, said Salagai.Nicotine nation: The story of Russia’s addiction to the cigarette>>>