New York, 2008 Feb 8, IRIB
The World Health Organization warned that the tobacco epidemic is growing and could claim 1 billion lives by the end of the century unless governments dramatically step up efforts to curb smoking.
In its first comprehensive report on tobacco use in 179 countries, the UN's health agency said governments collect more than US$200 billion (euro137 billion) in tobacco taxes every year but spend less than one-fifth of 1 percent of that revenue on tobacco control programs that could prevent millions of deaths.
The report says the industry spends tens of billions of dollars a year to attract new smokers, using low prices and aggressive marketing.
