{"content":"
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Martinez-Sanchez and colleagues examined the relationship between TCS scores and smoking prevalence in the 27 EU countries and found that higher TCS scores were strongly associated with lower smoking prevalence (15). In a study in 18 European countries Schaap and colleagues found a positive association between TCS scores and age standardised quit ratios (16). Hublet and colleagues examined the associations between tobacco control policies at country level, drawn from the TCS, and smoking prevalence in 15 year old adolescents in 29 European countries. They found that policies on price, smoking in public and advertising bans may help to reduce smoking prevalence in boys, but that the associations were weaker for girls (17). Another study confirmed the relationship between second-hand smoke exposure in non-smokers, as assessed by exhaled carbon monoxide, and TCS scores in the 27 EU countries (18).<\/p>\r\n

Overall countries, which failed to undertake new initiatives, lost TCS points and fell in the ranking. Countries with comprehensive policies in the six tobacco control policies are leading tobacco control in Europe.<\/p>\r\n

A specific concern is the lack of funding for tobacco control. Two thirds of the countries spent less than 10 euro cent per capita on tobacco control. The TCS scores for spending on tobacco control are extremely low. We are seeing reduced funding for tobacco control in several countries and there is clearly a risk of even further reductions in the coming years. Only Switzerland, Iceland and UK secured reasonable (but not sufficient) tobacco control funding in 2009.<\/p>\r\n

Price policy remains the most effective way to reduce sales. Prices in Lithuania, Romania, Bulgaria and Latvia increased strongly in recent years, but only as result of obligations under the 2002\/10\/EC Tobacco Tax Directive. Norway has the highest cigarette prices in Europe and probably in the world: 10 euro for a pack of Marlboro in the supermarket and 12 euro in the kiosk. Ireland has the highest prices in the EU, as the UK was affected by the unfavourable currency exchange of the British Pound towards the Euro in recent years.<\/p>\r\n<\/div><\/section>","hash":"af2cbb2919fa25072b9aa9222c2b04c5","css":".ffb-id-iej4jgo{ \nmargin-bottom: 10px;\n\n}\n","js":""}