60% of all EU citizens favour stronger tobacco control measures

The European Commission published an EU study on attitudes towards tobacco on the eve of World No Tobacco Day.

On average, 60% of citizens support measures to make tobacco less visible and attractive, such as keeping tobacco products out of sight in shops or curbing the use of attractive flavours and colours.

Other figures simultaneously are cause for concern with 28% of EU citizens aged 15 and over smoke, and 70% of the smokers and ex-smokers took up the habit before the age of 18.

European Commissioner for Health and Consumer Policy John Dalli said that he was “deeply concerned” that most Europeans start smoking at such a young age.

“This is why, as I stressed during a meeting today with Dr. Nikogosian, Head of the WHO Framework Convention for Tobacco Control's Secretariat, I am committed to ensuring that Europe lives up to its international commitments on regulating tobacco products, including reducing cigarettes' appeal to young people,” Dalli said.

Dalli said the EC was currently drafting a proposal to revise the Tobacco Products Directive and felt encouraged by EU citizens’ support for stronger tobacco control measures.

“It is also reassuring to see a substantial fall in the proportion of people exposed to tobacco smoke. This shows that strict regulations on smoking in public places and awareness raising action about the advantages of not smoking – such as the EU's "Ex-Smokers are unstoppable" campaign – are delivering results,” Dalli said.

The EU survey revealed that there has been a slight decrease from in the number of cigarettes smoked on a daily basis since 2009 from 14.4 to 14.2.

The prevalence of smoking has not increased since 2009 with half of the EU population who have never smoked while 61% of current smokers have already tried to quit smoking.

While there has been a decrease of 17% in the proportion of people exposed to tobacco smoke in restaurants and bars, 14% of EU citizens still reported that they were exposed to smoking in restaurants and 28% inside cafés and bars in the last six months.

Just over 70% of EU citizens are in favour of introducing security features to curb illicit trade of cigarettes, even if it makes them more expensive.

The EU survey also showed that 33% of smokers and ex-smokers found health warnings on tobacco packs to have had an impact on their attitudes and behaviour towards smoking.