1

UK

93

▲19

The UK is doing well on all six of the World Bank tobacco control policies, and has invested £ 30 million in 2007 introducing and promoting its new smoke-free legislation.

2=

Ireland

74

---

In March 2004 Ireland led the way in Europe by becoming the first country to implement smoke-free legislation in pubs and restaurants.

2=

Iceland

74

▲4

Iceland has the highest spending on tobacco control per capita in Europe at € 2.20 per capita in 2006. The law obliges the government to spend at least 0.9% of the total amount spent on tobacco on tobacco control.

4

Norway

66

▼5

Norway was the first country to adopt comprehensive smoke-free legislation, but its legislation came into force after Ireland. It has been and remains one of the strong leaders of tobacco control in Europe since the 1960s.

5

Malta

62

---

High tobacco prices and comprehensive smoke-free legislation mean that Malta remains highly ranked.

6

Sweden

61

▲1

Sweden has the lowest daily smoking prevalence rate in Europe, but the highest use of smokeless tobacco (snus) by men in Europe. Sweden has a good record on tobacco control but should increase funding on tobacco control activities.

7

France

59

▲3

France banned tobacco advertising in 1991, increased tobacco tax significantly in 2003 and is now implementing smoke-free legislation in two stages in 2007 and 2008.

8=

Finland

58

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For many years a leader in tobacco control, Finland has in recent years been much less dynamic. It granted an unnecessarily long transition period - until June 2009 - for the implementation of its smoke-free legislation in restaurants.

8=

Belgium

58

▲8

Belgium is the first European country to introduce pictorial health warnings on cigarette packets and it has adopted several new tobacco control laws in recent years as result of a federal action plan against tobacco. However, the legislation on smoking in bars is complex, weak and confusing.

10

Italy

57

---

Italy surprised the whole world in 2005, not only by adopting smoke-free legislation for bars and restaurants but because it is well respected. However, Italy has not yet ratified the FCTC (at the time of going to press in August 2007).

11

Estonia

56

▲11

Despite the high smoking prevalence in the Baltic countries, progress has been made in tobacco control in Estonia, which recently adopted smoke-free legislation.

12

Spain

55

▲24

In 2005 Spain adopted an advertising ban and comprehensive legislation on smoke-free public places, although the legislation on smoking in bars and restaurants is weak and ineffective.

13

Bulgaria

54

▲8

Bulgaria has introduced comprehensive tobacco control legislation but enforcement remains a problem, and it has high smoking prevalence. A positive development is that 1% of tobacco and alcohol excise duties will be used to finance national programmes on tobacco, alcohol and drugs from 2007 to 2010.

14=

Netherlands

50

▼2

Active in passing tobacco control legislation at the beginning of the decade, but has slowed down between 2004 and 2006. The Netherlands will enforce new smoke-free legislation in bars and restaurants in July 2008. However, smoking rooms are allowed with no restrictions on their size.

14=

Romania

50

▲23

When Romania joined the EU in January 2007, it adopted comprehensive legislation on labelling, smoke-free public places and advertising, although enforcement of the legislation remains a big problem. In 2006 a "sin tax" of 30% on tobacco and alcohol sales was introduced, which is to start in 2007 and will generate between € 100 million and € 200 million each year. How much will be allocated to tobacco control remains to be seen. Romania will introduce pictorial health warnings on cigarette packs from 1 July 2008.

14=

Poland

50

---

Poland was a shining example to the world in the 1990s and had a positive impact in Central and Eastern Europe. However, it only ratified the FCTC in September 2006 and is lacking new legislative processes in recent years. Smoke-free legislation is under review.

17

Slovakia

48

▼1

Slovakia has maintained a low profile on tobacco control but smoke-free legislation is now under review.

18

Switzerland

47

▲12

Home country of the international tobacco companies, Switzerland has weak tobacco advertising legislation and has not ratified the FCTC. In April 2004 a fund was established by law to support tobacco control activities (Fonds de Prévention du Tabagisme), financed by an obligatory contribution from the tobacco industry of CHF 0.026 per pack of cigarettes. In 2006 the budget of the fund was about € 11 million.

19

Cyprus

46

▼5

Cyprus has ongoing problems adopting and enforcing smoke-free legislation.

20

Denmark

45

---

Denmark is the only Scandinavian country where tobacco control is not high on the political agenda. New smoke-free legislation came into force in August 2007, but regrettably it contains exceptions, such as allowing smoking in individual offices at work.

21

Lithuania

44

▲10

As with Latvia, Lithuania has low taxes on tobacco products, but introduced ambitious smoke-free legislation in January 2007.

22

Hungary

43

▼4

Hungary was active on tobacco control legislation at the beginning of this decade and is reviewing its legislation now.

23

Portugal

42

▲3

Little activity on tobacco control legislation, and although there is new smoke-free legislation, which is due to come into effect on 1 January 2008, the law remains weak, certainly in bars and restaurants.

24

Latvia

41

▲12

There has been progress on smoke-free legislation, but Latvia has very low tobacco taxes and has done almost nothing to increase them in line with EU requirements on tax.

25=

Czech Rep.

40

▲2

There is a strong tobacco industry presence in the Czech Republic and a negative attitude towards tobacco control. The Senate refused to ratify the FCTC in June 2005.

25=

Slovenia

40

▲4

Slovenia was dynamic on tobacco control legislation in the 1990s, but has been less so in recent years. On a more positive note, smoke-free legislation came into force in August 2007.

27

Germany

37

▲1

Germany has long been the biggest problem for tobacco control in Europe, having well established connections with the tobacco industry, but there are possible positive signs recently. They ratified the FCTC early and have increased tax on tobacco products three times in recent years. Smoke-free legislation was introduced in two Länder on 1 August 2007. However, they currently have weak legislation on smoke-free environments and on tobacco advertising.

28=

Greece

36

▼2

According the WHO, Greece has the highest per capita consumption of cigarettes in the world in 2006. Tobacco control is clearly not on the political agenda.

28=

Luxembourg

36

▲10

Despite being the richest country in the EU, Luxembourg has very low taxes on tobacco products in order to attract cross-border shopping from neighbouring countries. In 2005 89% of all cigarettes sold in Luxembourg were bought by foreigners. Luxembourg made progress in 2006 by banning tobacco advertising and introducing legislation banning smoking in public places and restaurants.

30

Austria

35

▲4

In 1997 Austria voted with Germany against the EU directive on tobacco advertising and continues to follow the same weak approach to tobacco control as Germany. Smoke-free legislation is currently being considered.