The Russian government may introduce a comprehensive tobacco advertising ban by 2012, a business daily said on Monday.
Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin approved on Friday a national anti-smoking program.
The Vedomosti daily said the document envisages a ban on smoking in public places by 2015, with tobacco duties to eventually increase tenfold.
The average pack of Western-brand cigarettes in Russia costs less than $2, about a quarter of the price in Britain, which has among the highest tobacco taxes in the world.
Tobacco producers consider the program too radical, saying a high increase on duties may cause counterfeit tobacco consumption, Vedomosti said.
"The most effective method of fighting against smoking is the promotion of a healthy way of life," Alexander Lyutiy from British American Tobacco told the paper.
"In Russia's case these measures will be the most effective, since bans and restrictions can not change the situation significantly."
Under the current legislation, tobacco advertising is only allowed in some printed press. Outdoor tobacco advertising was banned in 2007, while tobacco adverts on TV and radio have been outlawed since 1996.
According to the latest statistics, there are 43.9 million smokers in Russia, or 40 percent of the population. Russians annually spend $13.3 billion on cigarettes while up to 500,000 people die of smoking-related diseases every year.
MOSCOW, October 4 (RIA Novosti)
