Russian railroad police and volunteers will give underage smokers candy in exchange for their cigarettes at Moscow train stations on Monday.
The idea is part of the Russian Perfect Day to Quit Smoking campaign, which coincides with the World Health Organization (WHO) World No Tobacco Day on May 31.
The Police officers and volunteers will patrol the capital's train stations dressed in bright jerseys on the lookout for smokers under the legal age of 18.
According to WHO reports, more than 60% of Russian men are smokers, and around 400,000 Russians die from smoking-related diseases annually.
The low cost of cigarettes in Russia is a major contributing factor to the trend. A pack of cigarettes that would cost $8 in the United States sells for $1 in Russia and Russian filterless cigarettes cost just 30 cents a pack.
With smoking and alcoholism cited as Russia's two most widespread public health problems, Russian men have a life expectancy of just 60 years.
MOSCOW, May 28 (RIA Novosti)
