The number of smokers has fallen by 2.5% in 10 years thanks to the WHO framework convention, but major harmonization efforts remain to be made.
Tune your violins. This, in essence, is the advice to be drawn from the results of the International Tobacco Control Policy Evaluation Project on anti-smoking policy carried out in the world. Since the signing of a framework Convention of the World Health Organization (WHO), in 2005, smoking in the world fell by 2.5% on the planet.
Can do better, decides the group responsible for evaluating the impact of this treaty in the review The Lancet Public Health. Most of the signatory countries have undertaken major works to combat tobacco consumption. But the lack of international coordination is holding back progress. The task is not small: 180 States have committed, with their signature, to reduce the number of smokers.
The popular non-smoking areas
Led by the WHO, the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control sets the course for reducing smoking worldwide. Reducing exposure to smoke, regulating the composition of products and information, strengthening prevention but also taxing tobacco products: these are the main directions of this text, implemented in 2005. An ambitious plan. But what about its application?
This study takes stock of 10 years of tobacco control, and the results are mixed. The various measures to reduce smoking have not been applied at the same pace around the world. The most popular: non-smoking public spaces. A third of the signatory countries have banned smoking in certain areas open to the public. With a double benefit, since it also limits passive smoking.
Too little prevention
Conversely, smoking cessation advertisements are the least popular programs. Only 13% of states have applied them. However, they make it possible to limit entry into smoking, particularly among young people. Taxes are more often implemented, with 22% of countries applying a levy on tobacco products. This is also the case for health warnings displayed on cigarette packages, adopted in a quarter of cases.
Unsurprisingly, the countries that invest the most in tobacco control are the ones that reap the most benefits. For each more measure in the arsenal of states, smoking falls by 1.5 percentage points. In 10 years, this represents 7% less smokers.
The Nepalese example
In this regard, two countries stand out: Panama and Nepal, which have developed a complete panel in the fight against smoking. The first has banned advertising, promotion and sponsorship since 2008 and instituted smoking cessation assistance programs in 2009. The second forces manufacturers to cover 90% of the surface of the packet with shocking images on the dangers of tobacco .
Conversely, African countries have been a little too lax with regard to smoking. Result: the number of smokers increased by 3% in West Africa, 13% in Central Africa, 5% in North Africa.
“The objective of the convention, to reduce tobacco consumption, can be achieved by adopting key measures at their highest level and by strictly enforcing them,” concludes Dr Geoffrey Fong, co-author of the ‘study. The delay in some countries is attributed to the influence of the tobacco industry.
According to the WHO, tobacco causes 6 million deaths each year. In France alone, 16 million people smoke.
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