Hem / The tobacco/nicotine issue is politically important
Foto: Istock
Tobacco is still a big problem in the world and millions of young people are lured in to addiction every year. In addition to serious damage to health, tobacco use costs society billions every year and has a major impact on the environment.
Through important tobacco policy decisions, politicians can counteract this – and at the same time promote a socially, economically and ecologically sustainable development.
Most countries in the world has ratified the World Health Organization’s Tobacco Convention (WHO FCTC). Few of them has implemented all the recommended measures to continue reducing and preventing tobacco use. Tobacco use in all its forms ways entails serious health risks and a financial burden for the individual, but also constitutes an enormous burden for the entire society.
Watch: short animated film about the negative impact on the environment Read: Environmental impacts of the tobacco industry – a survey of the research situation 2020
The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child states that children have the right to good physical and mental health, which means that all political decisions that affect children must be made with the best interests of the children in mind. Children’s rights should be a top priority and a guide in tobacco policy. Almost everyone who uses tobacco starts as a child, which makes children the main target group in the tobacco industry. Politicians can help protect children from being attracted to a harmful nicotine addiction – which is directly contrary to their right to life, health and development.
Making decisions that improve public health, the economy and the environment is a responsibility of politicians, and tobacco policy is an important and effective tool.
2024-10-19
Daily cigarette smoking has decreased in Sweden since the 1980s. This decrease coincides with the broad tobacco prevention efforts that...
2024-10-12
Nicotine is a substance extracted from the tobacco plant. It is the key addictive component of tobacco products such as...
2024-10-02
Tobacco is still a big problem in the world and millions of young people are lured in to addiction every...
2024-10-01
The Tobacco Convention is like a toolbox with a variety of tobacco control measures based on research and experience. It...
2024-09-28
Politicians should carefully consider before meeting representatives from the tobacco industry. It is part of the Tobacco Convention.
2024-09-27
Article 6 of the Tobacco Convention calls on countries to use tobacco taxes as a means of reducing tobacco consumption....
2024-09-26
There is no doubt that passive smoking is extremely dangerous. It causes deaths, illnesses, and disabilities. People need to be...
2024-09-25
The content of tobacco products must be regulated and authorities and the public have the right to know what the...
2024-08-02
The public has the right to know about the negative consequences of tobacco and how tobacco use can be removed...
