In early January, I called the Health Ministry at its information number *5400 to report a cigarette vending machine in Jerusalem’s Baka neighborhood that is clearly close to several schools. Over a month later, it was still there and operational, and many minors surely buy cigarettes from it, even though it is illegal to sell tobacco products to them. Why doesn’t the ministry take action? I was also upset that the government gave cigarette vendors until January 1, 2014, to eliminate all vending machines when the owners claimed they had to cover the cost of their investment in them. Surely the vending machines can be retrofitted so they can sell products that are not dangerous to health.
– E.M., Jerusalem Haim Geva Haspil, the health promoter and coordinator in the field of smoking prevention in the Health Ministry’s department for health promotion, answers:
Soon after Deputy Health Minister Ya’acov Litzman’s regulation took effect almost two months ago barring cigarette vending machines within a kilometer of schools, the ministry – via the media – asked the general public to report on violations. Through directives, it also asked school principals and teachers and the local authorities to report cigarette vending machines that violated the regulation.So far, it has received some 30 complaints, mostly via our “Kol Habriut” *5400 number.They were dealt with systematically. In general, handling complaints against vendors is the responsibility of the local authority, whether the machine is on the sidewalk or in a store. The local authority can cancel the business license. There are vending machines that have already been removed, while there are others in various stages of the elimination process. When a bill being promoted by the ministry to empower inspectors to enforce various laws against smoking is enacted, it will make it much easier than before for us to take action.As for allowing the owners to remove all cigarette vending machines in two years, ministry director-general Prof. Ronni Gamzu successfully fought to get that cutoff date instead of the original one giving them another year [beyond 2014] to “adjust.”Rx for Readers welcomes queries from readers about medical problems. Experts will answer those we find most interesting. Write Rx for Readers, The Jerusalem Post, POB 81, Jerusalem 91000, fax your question to Judy Siegel-Itzkovich at (02) 538-9527, or email it to jsiegel@jpost.com, giving your initials, age and place of residence.