Do you suffer from having to breathe smoke from someone else's cigarette? You are not alone – one in five EU citizens is exposed to secondhand smoke on a regular basis.
Smoking is the largest preventable cause of death in Europe. It can cause cancers of the mouth and throat, and is responsible for nearly 90 % of lung cancer cases. It raises the risk of cardiovascular diseases and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
Unfortunately, inhaling secondhand smoke raises nonsmokers' risk of developing similar health issues to smokers. Babies and children are particularly vulnerable. The EU is taking action to reduce your risk of exposure to secondhand smoke.
True to the saying that 'the best way to quit is to never start', the EU aims to deter people, especially the young, from taking up smoking. Measures to protect Europeans against the harmful effects of smoking include laws on packaging, labelling and the ingredients allowed in tobacco products; restrictions on tobacco advertising; taxes on tobacco products; actions combating illicit tobacco trade; and antitobacco campaigns, such as 'ExSmokers are Unstoppable', which targeted EU smokers aged 25 to 34.
Laws on smokefree environments, such as indoor workplaces, public transport, and restaurants and bars are the responsibility of national governments. However, the EU encourages and plays a coordinating role in the creation of such policies, backed up by research showing the positive and immediate health effects of indoor smoking bans. All EU countries have national rules in place, with varying scope.