Tobacco control in Europe: a policy review. (June 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Bertollini, Roberto; Ribeiro, Sofia; Mauer-Stender, Kristina; Galea, Gauden
• Is Part Of: European respiratory review. Volume 25:Number 140(2016)
• Page Start: 151
• Page End: 157
• Publication Date: 2016-06
• Subjects: Respiratory organs -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Respiratory Tract Diseases; Respiratory organs -- Diseases; Respiratory organs -- Diseases -- Treatment; Electronic journals; Periodical; Periodicals; Periodicals; 616.2
• DOI: 10.1183/16000617.0021-2016
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0905-9180

Abstract

Tobacco is responsible for the death of 6 million people every year globally, of whom 700 000 are in Europe. Effective policies for tobacco control exist; however, the status of their implementation varies across the World Health Organization (WHO) European Region. In order to tackle the tobacco epidemic, action has been taken though the implementation of both legally binding and non-legally binding measures. This article aims to present the achievements and challenges of tobacco control in Europe, focussing on the available legally binding instruments such as the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control and the revision of the Tobacco Products Directive at the European Union level. Tobacco still faces heavy lobbying of the tobacco industry, which has systematically contrasted policies to achieve public health objectives. The legal instruments for tobacco control in Europe presented here are not always adequately enforced in all the countries and there is certainly room for improving their implementation. Finally, the need for a strong political commitment towards the end-game of the tobacco epidemic is emphasised. We can stop the epidemic of tobacco-related diseases but we need political commitment to the endgame of this epidemic http://ow.ly/10lEFC