The European Commission published its latest Eurobarometer study on attitudes of Europeans towards tobacco. The document provides up-to-date figures on tobacco-related issues particularly relevant in view of the forthcoming Commission proposal for a revision of the Tobacco Products Directive.
EPHA has compiled some of the key findings of the study:
Tobacco consumption in the EU
– 28% of the European population smokes,
– 695 000 deaths per year in the EU,
– smoking costs: a minimum of €100 billion,
– 7% of EU citizens have tried electronic cigarettes but they are generally uncertain of their health risks.
Purchasing tobacco
– 14 new health warnings to appear on tobacco products adopted in 2012,
– an average 23% of respondents said that the packaging was the most important factor in choosing a cigarette brand. (they are 58% in Slovakia), 32% named its specific tastes (vanilla, menthol, etc.).
Motivations for starting or stopping smoking
– 70% of smokers and ex-smokers say that they started smoking before the age of 18,
– peer pressure is the most commonly mentioned reason for starting (in 79% of the cases), specific tobacco flavours engenders smoking in 3% of the cases and the attractiveness of the packages in 3% of the cases,
– 3 out of 5 smokers have tried to quit smoking, often without any supports,
– 71% of the Bulgarian respondents and 54% of Slovakian mentioned the price of tobacco as a reason to stop smoking,
Awareness and attitudes
– EU citizens are largely in favour of most policy measures with 54% of them being in favour of banning colours, logos and promotional elements on the packs, 56% in favour if increasing tobacco taxation and 76% of the respondents being in favour of putting pictorial warnings on all packages,
– Health warnings influence around a third of the target group.
For further information
- Eurobarometer on attitudes of Europeans towards tobacco
- European Commission webpage on tobacco
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EPHA related articles
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