Consumer News

Consumer spends more on cigarettes than with rice and beans

05/31/2013

 

Cristina Indio of Brazil
Brazil Agency reporter

Rio de Janeiro - The expenses of the population with cigarettes have maintained in recent years and the weight of these expenses in the monthly budget of consumers "is relevant," said economist of the Brazilian Institute of Economics (Ibre) Fundação Getulio Vargas (FGV), André Braz.

On World No Tobacco Day, celebrated today (31), the economist said the implications of cigarette consumption for the household budget. According to him, consumers spend on cigarettes twice what use to buy rice and beans. "1.20% of the average income is spent on cigarettes. It is a representative number if you look spending on rice and beans, which is half of that, only 0.60%, "he said.

According to Souza Cruz in 2012, the company reached 74.9% of the Brazilian cigarette market, confirming the first position in the industry. In the fourth quarter the share grew by 1.2 percentage points in the year, reaching record attendance in its history, of 76.6%. Also according to the company, operating income was R $ 2.37 billion, representing an increase of 9% compared to 2011. The performance results include the export of tobacco, in the same period of comparison, as the company grew by 106%.

The average value in real consumer spending, however, is not calculated according to economist of FVG, because it varies depending on the amount of smoke per family and the number of members in each.

André Braz explained that spending always had significant weight (over 1%), but remained stable in the past decade because who does not like to give up smoking cigarette. Braz clarified that despite the drop in the number of smokers, the proportion of spending remains highlighted because of the rise in the price of the product. "The government implemented a policy of increasing tax to discourage the product, so that the number of smokers is lower in group sustains addiction at a higher price," he said.

According to data from the National Cancer Institute (INCA), in the population over 15 years of age, cigarette consumption in Brazil fell from 32% in 1989 to 17% in 2008. The 17% are 25 million smokers.

For pulmonologists Inca, Ricardo Meirelles, the drop is the result of a set of actions of the National Tobacco Control. "The public awareness about smoking and laws are important. The law prohibits smoking in enclosed environment is important because it raises awareness and encourages the smoker to stop smoking. We note that people want to quit smoking why not have more freedom to smoke as before. "

For pulmonologists, the increase in cigarette prices also influences to combat addiction. He also cited other factors: the prohibition of advertisement campaigns for young people not to start smoking, increase the supply of assistance to smokers in public and, lastly, to ban people from smoking in public buildings. The pulmonologist also cited the increasing complaints from people who say they are with health impaired by living with smokers.

In evaluating Meirelles, is much more economical for the government to implement a program against smoking, even buying the drugs, than pay for the treatment of disease caused by addiction. He explained that the treatment is based on two forms.

"First - Meirelles said - you must understand that smoking is addiction. Nicotine is very powerful and can cause addiction even greater than other [substances]. "

Also noted that there psychological dependence: the cigarette is sometimes seen as a way to reassure, relieve stress and hassles.

Edition: José Romildo

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Source: Agency Brazil

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