The Addis Ababa Food and Drug Authority has announced that individuals caught discarding cigarette butts on roads, squares, or any public spaces will face a 2,000 Birr fine. This stringent measure is part of the city’s broader regulatory initiative aimed at maintaining urban cleanliness, safeguarding public health, and reducing tobacco consumption across the capital.
According to Dr. Muluemebet Tadesse, the Director General of the Authority, the penalty will be strictly enforced in accordance with City Administration Regulation No. 167/2016.
Dr. Tadesse emphasized that this specific regulation was enacted to control tobacco product usage and ultimately foster a smoke-free urban environment.
The initiative comes as part of a continuous effort by municipal authorities to address both environmental pollution and health hazards. Cigarette filters, which contain non-biodegradable plastics, have long been a major contributor to urban litter and drainage blockages in the city, prompting the need for stricter legal deterrents.
Recent data released by the Authority indicates that enforcement and public awareness campaigns are already yielding positive results. Currently, 79 percent of public service institutions in Addis Ababa have successfully transitioned to becoming entirely smoke-free zones, marking a significant milestone for city health officials.
Furthermore, statistics show that the overall smoking rate among residents in the capital has decreased from 5.3 percent to 4.6 percent. Officials express optimism that the new financial penalties will sustain this downward trend and encourage greater civic responsibility.