Tobacco use remains a serious problem all over the world. Unfortunately, there are also many tobacco users in Azerbaijan," Fatos Hande Harmanci, Representative of the World Health Organization in Azerbaijan, has said.

Axar.az reports that according to her, about 1.3 million people use tobacco in Azerbaijan: "Half of the people who use tobacco in the country die before the age of 70. Therefore, it is crucial to fighting seriously in order to prevent tobacco use. The most important step in this regard is to increase the price of tobacco. Since the price of cigarettes in Azerbaijan is very cheap. Increase in prices can relatively prevent young from smoking."

The WHO official added that all the same, advertisement of tobacco products should be reduced: "Cigarettes are openly sold in shops, big markets. However, it is possible to sell these products closed or to provide to renew boxes. I consider the law adopted last year as praiseworthy."

Harmanci considers that if tobacco control measures are not taken, the number of smokers will increase steadily: "Entrepreneurs dealing with tobacco trade want to earn more. My observations show that youth are more interested in using cigarettes or tobacco-pipes in Baku. I would like to note that to smoke pipe for one hour is tantamount to 40 cigarettes."