BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 21
By Tamilla Mammadova – Trend:
The ban on the sale and delivery of bulk tobacco products of any kind came into force in Georgia on November 21, Trend reports via Georgian media outlets.
It will be forbidden to sell and deliver any unpackaged bulk tobacco – for pipes, cigarettes or hookahs.
Tobacco can only be sold in packaged form, in packages of net weight of 50 or 100 grams. Tobacco must have an excise stamp, and the package must contain a warning about its health hazards.
For violators, a fine of 2,000 lari (about $700) will be applicable.
For a repeated violation, the fine is doubled.
Since May 1, 2018, smoking in public places has been completely prohibited in Georgia.
After the excise tax on tobacco products (with and without filters) has gradually risen in price since January 2017, cigarettes have become almost two and a half times more expensive. On average, a pack of filter cigarettes in Georgia costs four to six lari (about $1.3-2).
Despite to the strong rise in price of cigarettes, many people in Georgia began to smoke cigarettes.
The government says it is fighting smoking with high excise taxes.
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