Stop Smoking Experiment - A successful project

In Switzerland, the "Be Smart" school class competition has been underway since the year 2000 under the name "Stop Smoking Experiment".

Classes from year 6 (age 12) to the end of comprehensive school (age 15-16 years) agree to remain smoke-free for six months. As a rule, the competition starts at the beginning of November and ends at the beginning of May. It is possible to enter the competition in two different categories: In category A, the whole class agrees to remain smoke-free. In category B, classes from year 7 onwards can take part, in which some of the pupils (a maximum of 10 percent) are smokers.

During the most recent competition (the 2006/2007 academic year), 2955 classes took part with more than 52,000 pupils in total. Two thirds of all classes observed the competition conditions to the end.

The number of young smokers has clearly decreased in Switzerland in recent years. Non-smoking is increasingly becoming accepted as a trend. The Stop Smoking Experiment contributed to this.

Category A (the whole class is smoke-free): Travel vouchers to the value of CHF 500.
Category B (some smokers permitted): Travel vouchers to the value of CHF 250.
Some cantons also organise cantonal competitions with attractive prizes.

• PowerPoint presentation to present the Stop Smoking Experiment to teacher or, for example, a PowerPoint presentation to present the Stop Smoking Experiment at parents evenings
• Downloadable teaching resources from the internet
• Classes can publish photos and reports of their experiences of competition activities on www.experiment-nichtrauchen.ch
• CD with lesson materias
• Information brochures
• 3 editions of the OXY magazine for all school pupils
• Monthly newsletter for teachers including competition information and lesson advice
• Support and additional activities in the canton by specialist departments and leagues (see back of brochure)

The competition is run by the Arbeitsgemeinschaft Tabakprävention [Swiss Tobacco Prevention Association], together with the cantonal Tabak- und Suchtpräventionsstellen [Tobacco and Addiction Prevention Offices] and the cantonal Krebs- und Lungenligen [Cancer and Lung Leagues].