The Ethiopian parliament has passed a draft bill that restricts smoking in public places and also bans a category of alcohol advertisement especially in broadcast media. The Food and Drug’s Proclamation addresses thematic public health issues as Food Safety Administration, Tobacco Products Regulation, Alcohol Control and Medicine and Medical Device Administration. Major highlights from the restrictions on smoking and alcohol usage included:Ban on smoking in all indoor workplaces, public places and means of public transport. The legal age for which a person can purchase alcohol shall be 21. Traditionally shisha tobacco contains cigarette tobacco, so like cigarettes it contains nicotine, tar, carbon monoxide and heavy metals, such as arsenic and lead.

Source: Ethiopian News February 06, 2019 12:11 UTC