Deputy Health Minister Yaakov Litzman and the senior staff of the ministry have told the Knesset Labor, Welfare and Health Committee that the rate of smoking in the general adult population in Israel stands at 20.5%, a decrease compared with previous years.
Appearing in conjunction with World No Tobacco Day, they reported more than 50% of the students experienced smoking for the first time at the age of 13. In the Arab sector, 56% experienced smoking for the first time at 12 years of age. In addition to legislation approved yesterday to expand no-smoking areas, there will be measures to limit advertising tobacco products and an anti-smoking campaign during the upcoming World Cup soccer tournament.