Practising what we preach

Tobacco use contributes to the death of around 5.4 million people every year worldwide. That is more than the estimated population of Scotland. In Scotland, as with the rest of the UK, people are able to enjoy smoke-free workplaces, including bars and clubs. The implementation and public support of similar measures across Europe are great successes in the battle against tobacco use. Indeed, European efforts in this area have an important effect on the success of similar efforts further afield. World No Tobacco Day on 31 May is therefore an opportunity to celebrate Europe’s achievements, but also to identify improvements to ensure that Europe continues to lead the way in getting the world to kick the habit.

The great majority of member states have implemented some form of smoke-free measures. Be it through obliging employers to provide dedicated smoking areas, as is the case in Bulgaria, or through less accommodating bans like those in the UK or France. The fact is that Europe recognises the need to protect people from the harmful effects of tobacco smoke.

The European commission’s green paper ‘Towards a Europe free from tobacco smoke: policy options at EU level’ and the tobacco products directive are all positive measures that further underline Europe’s commitment to discouraging smoking and promoting a smoke-free environment. Indeed, through the HELP for a life without tobacco scheme, the EU further contributes to helping smokers quit as well as convincing young people not to start.

European citizens recognise the benefits that these measures offer to their quality of life. A Eurobarometer poll showed that support for smoke-free offices, indoor spaces and public spaces has increased to 88 per cent. Support for smoking bans in bars and restaurants is also high (62 per cent and 77 per cent respectively), with those most supportive being in countries where such bans are in place. EU citizens are therefore resoundingly behind anti-tobacco measures.

However, the EU should not be content with the status quo. Disparities still remain between member states in terms of the nature and enforcement of smoking bans and few member states have introduced the more effective pictorial warnings on tobacco products. The EU must therefore continue to make concerted efforts to actively encourage consistency across the EU in anti-smoking policy in order to persuade Europeans that their concerns are being heeded.

It becomes less convincing that this is the case when the European parliament scraps its own complete smoking ban only six weeks after its implementation, or when some members propose to prolong tobacco subsidies. By passing the proposals in the report on the European tobacco fund in plenary, parliamentarians sent a resounding message of support to the tobacco industry. Such hypocrisy calls the parliament’s sincerity over anti-smoking measures into question.

Individual member states and the EU have come a long way in promoting the idea of a smoke-free Europe. Indeed, the clear support from European citizens makes success in this objective all the more important. Consequently, the EU must renew its efforts to encourage a consistent and concerted anti-smoking policy. It is only in successfully practicing what they preach that the EU and its member states can effectively contribute to the global effort against tobacco use.

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