Sri Lanka, May 3 -- Nearly 80 million people die globally each year due to the use of tobacco products, the Chairperson of the National Authority on Tobacco and Alcohol (NATA), Specialist Dr. Ananda Rathnayake, has stated.

Dr. Rathnayake noted that of this, around 70 million deaths are caused directly due to the use of tobacco, while approximately 10% result from passive smoking.

He also warned that alcohol consumption also contributes to a significant number of deaths and leads to a wide range of serious health complications.

Dr. Ananda Rathnayake made these remarks while attending the handover of a policy concept paper containing recommendations aimed at making all children born after 2010 a tobacco-free generation. The document was ...