The world’s first public health treaty combats cigarette smoking

The world’s first public health treaty combats cigarette smoking
With the help of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, more countries are implementing stricter anti-smoking laws. Getty Images/Martin Villagran
The world’s first public health treaty combats cigarette smoking
With the help of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, more countries are implementing stricter anti-smoking laws. Getty Images/Martin Villagran

The world’s first public health treaty combats cigarette smoking

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In America, cigarette smoking seems like it’s on the way out. There are restrictions on where you can smoke, and socially, it’s a downer. To varying degrees, smoking is more taboo worldwide as well. From Australia to Uruguay, cigarettes are in the crosshairs. There’s even a world treaty – the first ever from the World Health Organization – called the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. So far, more than 160 countries have ratified it. The United States has not. We’ll speak with Dr. Judith Mackay, senior policy advisor to the World Lung Foundation, about all these new efforts to curb smoking and why smoking rates worldwide continue to rise.