YEREVAN. – Armenia will tighten restrictions on tobacco advertisements and tobacco products, Health Minister Derenik Dumanyan said, introducing the draft resolution of the Armenian government.

Tobacco advertising is still prohibited on television and radio, electronic and print media as well as on outdoor advertising, retail and catering facilities.

Tobacco advertising is permitted only in special editions available only in tobacco shops. The employees of  such stores are allowed to advertise tobacco both verbally and visually.

“But with this advertising the consumer should also receive information about the danger of tobacco,” Minister said during the Thursday session of the government.

Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan stressed the importance of the fight against smoking, including by means of society

“Smoking is a serious problem for our society. Hundreds of people annually die of smoking in our country. But for some reason we do not hear the voices of civil society organizations. We hear about environmental activists every day, although the environmental risks of Armenia are more manageable. Harm from smoking remains uncontrolled. Protests against it should be louder,” PM said.