The 13th World Conference on Tobacco OR Health

Objective: Thailand was pegged by tobacco industry as a fertile ground for future sales due to its economic growth. Thailand has implemented all of WHO's recommendations to curb tobacco epidemics.

Methodology: Thailand was one of the countries targeted by the industry in its bid to open Asian tobacco markets using US Trade law, specifically Section 301 in 1990.The Section 301 case put Thailand's tobacco activists on the world stage and marked a significant turning point in the history of tobacco control. With the momentum, Thai tobacco control activists were able to lobby for the passing of two key tobacco control law.

Today Thailand still continues it efforts to control tobacco through legislation, taxation and community based programs. One of Thailand's recent successes was the introduction of the pictorial health warnings, banning cigarette advertising at point of sale and tobacco taxation as well as dedicated tobacco tax for tobacco control.

Result: Fifteen years ago, more than fifty percent of Thai men and four percent of Thai women aged over fifteen were smokers, but in 2004, smoking prevalence has been dropped to 37% in men and 2.1% in women. Thailand offers a timely reminder that tobacco control is only truly effective when it is able to effectively utilize every weapon at its disposal. It is not enough to pass legislation - we must enforce it, and it is not enough to merely have a grassroots campaign - we need to adequately resource it.