According to the report of July 16, the European Union’s tobacco control action is facing challenges, and the reduction in smoking rates has not been as expected. According to the latest study by the European Commission, the proportion of people who smoke in the European Union has fallen by only one percentage point in the past three years, and 24% of the population still smokes. This data shows that the EU is making slow progress in meeting its targets to reduce the smoking population.
Among EU member states, Bulgaria, Greece and Croatia have a smoking rate of more than 35%, while Sweden has the lowest smoking rate at less than 10%, highlighting the differences and challenges in tobacco control measures across member States.
Despite the decline in smoking rates, boxed cigarettes are still the first choice of smokers, and the average consumption of smokers has remained at about 14 cigarettes per day compared to 2020, with no significant reduction.
At the same time, e-cigarette use is gaining popularity among young people, with 3 percent of respondents saying they have used such products, especially in the 15-39 age group. The survey found that a third of e-cigarette users started using because of the influence of friends, while 36% of users did so to reduce or stop traditional tobacco consumption.
As part of the European Plan against Cancer, the EU has set a target of achieving a “smoke-free generation” by 2040, with the proportion of the population using tobacco falling below 5%.
In his statement, the Belgian Minister of Health, Frank Vandenbroucke, stressed the need for further tobacco control measures, noting that the public generally supports strengthening tobacco control policies. Frank van den Broek also expressed the expectation that the next European Commission will be able to move quickly on the revision of the tobacco Directive. Currently, the latest version of the EU’s tobacco directive is still stuck in 2014, and although it has been amended several times to adapt to market changes, the latest review has been delayed.
Lilia Olefir, Director of the Smoke-Free Partnership (SFP), called on the EU to immediately resume the review of the three directives on tobacco tax, tobacco products and advertising to address the health risks posed by tobacco consumption. Tobacco consumption is the biggest avoidable health risk in the EU, causing around 700,000 deaths a year. In addition, Lilia Oleifel also stressed the importance of increasing the minimum tax on tobacco products, mandatory plain packaging, banning cross-border online sales, protecting youth from digital advertising of addictive products and other measures, and called for the EU to develop uniform regulations and increase efforts to combat the tobacco lobby.