EU Tobacco Control Facing Challenges: Smoking Rate Decline Not Meeting Expectations

According to Bulgarians reported on July 16, the EU's efforts to control smoking are facing challenges as the decrease in smoking rates has not met expectations. According to the latest study by the European Commission, the proportion of smokers in the EU has only decreased by 1 percentage point in the past three years, with currently 24% of the population still smoking; this data indicates that the EU is making slow progress in achieving its goal of reducing the number of smokers.

In the European Union, Bulgaria, Greece, and Croatia have smoking rates exceeding 35%, while Sweden has a smoking rate of less than 10%, making it the country with the lowest smoking rate. This highlights the differences and challenges among member states in implementing tobacco control measures.

Despite a decrease in smoking rates, packaged cigarettes remain the preferred choice for smokers, with the average daily consumption for smokers staying around 14 cigarettes per day compared to 2020, showing no significant decrease.

Meanwhile, the use of e-cigarettes is gradually becoming popular among young people, with 3% of respondents stating that they have used such products, especially in the 15 to 39 age group. The survey found that one-third of e-cigarette users started using them because of the influence of friends, while 36% of users did so to reduce or quit consumption of traditional tobacco.

As part of the European Cancer Plan, the EU has set a goal to achieve a "smoke-free generation" by 2040, with the proportion of tobacco users dropping to below 5%.

Belgian Minister of Health Frank Vandenbroucke emphasized the need for further tobacco control measures in a statement, noting widespread public support for strengthening smoke-free policies. Vandenbroucke also expressed hopes for the next European Commission to quickly advance revisions to the Tobacco Products Directive. Currently, the latest version of the EU Tobacco Products Directive dates back to 2014 and has been revised multiple times to adapt to market changes, but the latest review has been delayed.

Lilia Olefir, director of Smoke-Free Partnership (SFP), is calling on the European Union to immediately resume the review of three directives concerning tobacco taxes, tobacco products, and advertising in order to address the health risks associated with tobacco consumption. She points out that tobacco consumption is the EU's largest avoidable health risk, resulting in approximately 700,000 deaths per year. Furthermore, Lilia Olefir emphasizes the importance of increasing the minimum tax rate on tobacco products, implementing mandatory plain packaging, prohibiting cross-border online sales, protecting youth from the influence of addictive product digital advertising, and calls on the EU to establish uniform regulations to intensify efforts to combat tobacco lobbying groups.