EXTREME SMOKING BANSEXCLUDE SMOKERS

FROM SOCIETY

Sources:

Finland

Forest EU (2019) Smoking in Society Index:http://forestonline.eu/resources/smoking-bans-europe-reportCouncil of the European Union (2009) Recommendation of 30 November 2009 on smoke-free environment (2009/C 296/02): https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32009H1205(01)&from=ENEuropean Commission (2013), Report on the implementation of the Council Recommendation of 30 November 2009 on Smoke-free Environments: https://ec.europa.eu/health/sites/health/files/tobacco/docs/smoke-free_implementation_report_en.pdfStanford University (2007), Real-time measurement of outdoor tobacco smoke particles: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17518219University of British Columbia (2010), Smoking, stigma and tobacco ‘denormalization’: Further reflections on the use of stigma as a public health tool:https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20044187Forest EU (2018), Attitudes towards tobacco policies in the European Union: http://forestonline.eu/resources/eu-attitudes-towards-tobacco-policies-2018

THE CONTEXT

THE PROBLEM

THE IMPACT

THE SOLUTION

By focusing on measures protecting people from second-hand smoke, the 2009 EU Recommendation achieved a balance between the protection of the non-smokers’ health and the smokers’ rights.

In 2009, the Council of the European Union adopted a Recommendation on smoke-free environments.

Gold plating by Member State governments, driven by well funded anti-tobacco lobbies, has overridden the 2009 EU Recommendation on smoke-free environments and introduced smoking bans that go far beyond its core principals.

Europe is now dotted with street, park and beach bans, the prohibition of smoking inside one’s home or car and the extension of smoking bans to vaping.

Excessive smoking bans in the open air or in one’s home or car don’t benefit the health of non-smokers and amount to an invasion of smokers’ privacy.

Far from promoting an inclusive culture, excessive smoking bans are a way to legally discriminate smokers and ban them from society.

Draconian prohibitions might make politicians look good, but the costs of the measures are borne by others including the hospitality sector, employers, smokers and taxpayers.

Smoking in outdoor areas like parks, beaches and streets shouldn’t be restricted except for situations whereminors are present.

Separate, well-ventilated smoking rooms in airports, train stations, hospitals, prisons, cafés and restaurants should be permitted.

In 2012, all 27 EU Member States had implemented the recommended measures and exposure rates to second-hand smoke had significantly dropped.

Sweden

France

Netherlands

UK

Lithuania

Poland

Hungary

Slovenia

Belgium

Greece

Cyprus

Facilitating the accommodation of both smokers and non-smokers is a popular policy: seven in ten Europeans think places like cafés and bars should have the legal option to provide a well ventilated, designated smoking room.

Best practices drawn from six EU Member States show it is possible to have sensible policies and an inclusive culture by protecting the health of non-smokers without marginalising smokers.

The law should not restrict smoking in private properties such as houses, apartments, terraces, balconies and gardens.

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Forest EU is a campaign informing smokers about issues that affect them in the European Union and engaging with stakeholders so the views of informed adults are taken into account. Since 1979, Forest has been the leading voice in defending the rights of tobacco consumers and tolerant non-smokers. Forest EU doesn’t encourage smoking, receives financial support from tobacco manufacturers and doesn’t represent the tobacco industry. For more information, visit forestonline.eu

Smoking ban

Smoking andvaping ban

A new report from the European smokers' campaign Forest EU is available at:http://forestonline.eu/resources/smoking-bans-europe-report