Question

Short of the adoption of any of the radical policies, further reductions in smoking in developed countries that have the most tobacco control success are likely to come frustratingly low. What innovative policies can you think of to address this slow rate of tobacco control success?

Answer 1

Ans) Tobacco control policies have contributed to dramatic declines in smoking in the developed nations.

- However, the circumstances under which these policies altered the smoking landscape have changed and are likely to change further. As well, decreases in smoking prevalence may have "stalled" at current levels.

- Because today's smokers differ significantly from yesterday's and the environment in which smokers consume their cigarettes has changed, it is plausible that several of the evidence-based tobacco control policies soon will have run their course in the most advanced tobacco control environments.

- We ask, therefore, what developed nations can expect of these policies in the future and what novel policy measures may be needed to continue the assault on tobacco.

- Without substantial innovation in tobacco control policy, further reductions in smoking in developed nations will come frustratingly slowly. Needed policy innovations might be quite radical, such as legislating entirely smoke-free outdoor environments or regulators reducing allowable nicotine in cigarettes to non-addicting levels.