Tobacco Control Scale 2010

Switzerland makes progress in tobacco controls

Switzerland has been ranked 11th on the Tobacco Control Scale 2010, published by the European Cancer Leagues in March 2011.

Switzerland improved its position by seven places between 2007 and 2010. The following reasons have contributed to this:

  • Thanks to the national tobacco prevention fund, financed by a levy on each packet of cigarettes sold, Switzerland is able to continue providing funding towards tobacco prevention.
  • Many of the country's cantons have adopted strict regulations for smoke-free indoor areas.
  • Since 2010, the packaging of all tobacco products sold throughout the whole of Switzerland contains the Stop Smoking hotline number and displays pictorial warnings on the back.

However, Luk Joossens and Martin Raw, the authors of the ranking, also mention the weaknesses of the Swiss tobacco control: There is no ban on advertising and sponsorship of tobacco products, and the international Framework Convention on Tobacco Control remains to be ratified.

Source

Luk Joossens & Martin Raw, The Tobacco Control Scale 2010 in Europe, Association of European Cancer Leagues Opens external link in current windowwww.ensp.org.