RUSSIA: WINNER OFANTI-SMOKING CONTEST скачать в хорошем качестве

RUSSIA: WINNER OFANTI-SMOKING CONTEST

(13 Jul 2000) Russian/Eng/Nat XFA Sergei Mezenin is probably the happiest former smoker in Russia. A nicotine addict since early childhood - he not only managed to quit a dangerous habit - but got a check for 2-thousand 500 U-S dollars for doing just that - an outstanding sum of money in a country where 100 U-S dollars is the average monthly wage. Mezenin beat off some 28-thousand participants in the "Quit & Win 2000" competition. Former smoker Sergei Mezenin receiving his prize in Moscow - a cheque for 2-thousand 500 U-S dollars. He's from Verkhny Salda in the Ural Mountains in Russia. The money was provided by the "Quit&Win 2000" - international programme to combat smoking sponsored by the World Health Organisation and the Public Health Institute of Finland. But although a hefty sum by Russian standards where the average salary hovering just below 100 U-S dollars a month - is a pittance compared to advertising budgets of international tobacco companies. Faced with increased amount of civil lawsuits by smokers in the USA and Western Europe, the tobacco giants are looking for revenues in less developed parts of the world. In Russia where according to some estimate over 75 per cent of adult population is smoking, the companies find room for big business. Russian law bans TV advertising of the tobacco but allows street billboards provided it is supplied with a health warning. As result, downtown Moscow these days looks like one big cigarette ad. Representatives from tobacco companies approach passers-by on the streets with offers of new tobacco brands. Many smokers in Russia are acutely aware of the danger that tobacco poses but can not resist the temptation. SOUNDBITE: (Russian) "I just like smoking - when there is nothing to do, you simple take a cigarette and light up - it makes sense. " SUPER CAPTION: Vladimir Pukhov, smoker SOUNDBITE: (Russian) "I'm not going to quit. I'm so used to smoking and I actually like the process. " SUPER CAPTION: Sergei Frolkin, smoker Another Russian law strictly bans sales of tobacco to under aged - but it is widely ignored. A cigarette in hand remains a trendy accessory among Russian teenagers. Cigarettes - even the most expensive brands - in Russia cost a fraction of what a smoker would have to part with in the USA and Western Europe. SOUNDBITE: (English) "It is quite difficult in Russia today to try to motivate people to stop smoking. But I think the competition like "Quit & Win" could be the one. Of course it won't solve any problems as a whole but it could one step forward and then we would have to sit down and think very hard on what tactics we should use because in Russian today over 70 per cent of the men smoke and that is a very big problem." SUPER CAPTION: Patrick Sandstrem, Quit&Win 2000 programme coordinator Most Russians probably won't forget the taste of cigarette overnight but for 28-thousand people who took part in "Quit&Win 2000", smoking is already a habit of the past. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...