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23 March 2011

This report by Luk Joossens and Martin Raw describes the results of a survey of tobacco control activity in 31 European countries in 2010, using the Tobacco Control Scale (TCS).

The report presents the results of a survey of tobacco control activity in 31 European countries in 2010 using the Tobacco Control Scale. Countries were judged according to a scale of measures considered to be essential components of a comprehensive tobacco control programme. The following six measures were described by the World Bank, which should be prioritised in a comprehensive tobacco control programme:

• price increases through higher taxes on cigarettes and other tobacco products;
• bans/restrictions on smoking in public and work places;
• better consumer information, including public information campaigns, media coverage, and publicising research findings;
• comprehensive bans on the advertising and promotion of all tobacco products, logos and brand names;
• large, direct health warning labels on cigarette boxes and other tobacco products;
• treatment to help dependent smokers stop, including increased access to medications.

The Tobacco Control Scale 2010 was launched at a press conference in The Hague, Netherlands, on 23 March 2011 and is available for download below.