Swiss fight against tobacco isn’t enough

Switzerland ranked 21th in the Tobacco Control Scale report, back from 18th in 2013. The report is published once every three years, the last one, which was referring to 2013, being made available in 2014.

The 2016 Tobacco Control Scale was launched on March 23 at the 7th European Conference on Tobacco or Health (ECToH). It presents the results of the development and implementation of tobacco control policies in 35 European countries, using a tool called Tobacco Control Policy Scale.

The European countries were assessed based on the measures considered essential components of comprehensive programs for tobacco control, as recommended by the World Health Organization and the World Bank.

The UK ranks first in the 2016 Tobacco Control Scale report, followed by Ireland, Iceland, France, and Norway. Austria, Germany and Luxembourg are at the bottom of the scale.

The Swiss Association for Smoking Prevention (AT), commenting on the report, criticized the Swiss authorities for not fighting advertising on smoking in practice.

In the winter session, the Federal Assembly returned to the government the law on tobacco products. They did not intend to restrict advertising in cinemas, on posters or in the sponsoring of events. The free market economy, AT underlines, is more important than prevention.

In the 3-year report there are some surprises. For example, the good performance of Italy, Spain and Portugal but also other countries usually ending up at the bottom of most lists.

The authors of the report believe that in a relatively brief period, even the most reticent countries will end up keeping pace with the leaders in anti-nicotine efforts. Thanks to the application of a recent European Directive, whereby packages of 10 cigarettes are now banned; as is the use of additives that make cigarettes more attractive, such as caffeine, vitamins, colored smoke, or substances that facilitate the inhalation or absorption of nicotine.