World No Tobacco Day: the majority of Europeans support smoke-free policies.
The majority of Europeans are inclined to smoke-free policies, according to the results of a new Eurobarometer on Tobacco represented by EU Health Commissioner Markos Kyprianou in the European Parliament to specify World No Tobacco Day on 31 May. An overpowering majority of 88% support smoke-free offices, indoor working places and public territories - a slight increase in comparison to last year’s poll (86%). The poll also reflects that one in three smokers have tried to quit in the last year.
However, over 70% of them have returned to the habit in less than two months. Commissioner Kyprianou informed that the EU’s anti-smoking campaign, ’HELP – For a Life Without Tobacco’, will start on 31 May an e-mail service to support people as they give up smoking. A European Youth Manifesto "Young People: For a Life Without Tobacco" was also demonstrated to the Commissioner in Strasbourg.
EU Health Commissioner Markos Kyprianou stated: "I am inspired that public support for smoke-free work places and public places in Europe remains so high. This can only bring closer the momentum towards making European public and work places smoke-free by 2009."
The predominance of tobacco use and the exposition to second-hand tobacco smoke is a major public health concern in Europe.
