Tobacco Control Scale 2019
Highest Scores:
1. UK (1 --). The UK remains number one but is not doing well on funding (zero points) and is no longer the leader on prices (due to some extent to the weakness of the Pound). The UK is the second country in the world to adopt plain packaging legislation. England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland banned smoking in cars when minors are present. The UK ratified the WHO FCTC Illicit Trade Protocol.
2. France (4 ▲2). A pack of Marlboro costed €9,30 in 2019 compared to €7 in 2016 (+33%). France is the third country in the world which adopted plain packaging. In addition, France ratified the WHO FCTC Illicit Trade Protocol, organised media campaigns “a month without tobacco”, banned advertising at the point of sales and smoking in private cars when minors are present. The French Tobacco Fund (Fonds de lutte contre le tabac) had a budget of 100 million euro in 2018.
3. Ireland (2 ▼1). Ireland adopted plain packaging legislation and banned smoking in cars when minors are present. The nominal value of cigarettes prices is the highest in Europe (€13,50 a pack in 2020) but as result of the increase in affordability, Ireland lost points in the price scoring. The Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in Power Purchasing Standards per capita was 187 in 2018 compared to 145 in 2015 (+30%).

Lowest Scores:
36. Germany (33 ▼3). The lowest TCS score. No new tobacco control policies introduced since 2010 except for the transposition of the 2014 EU Tobacco Products Directive and the ratification of the WHO FCTC Illicit Trade Protocol. Germany is the only EU country which still allows tobacco advertising on billboards. There are initiatives to ban billboard tobacco advertising, but still with long transition periods.
35. Switzerland (21 ▼14). Switzerland is the homeland for international tobacco companies, has very weak tobacco advertising legislation and is the only country in this survey which has not ratified the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. Since 2017, the Federal Council (cabinet) has no more the competence to increase cigarette taxes. The last time the Federal Council increased the tax by 10 cents was in 2013. A price increase is only possible when tobacco companies increase their price and thus their profits (16). Switzerland seems to be more interested in the well-being of the tobacco companies than in the health of its citizens (17).
34. Luxembourg (33 ▼1). Luxembourg is the richest country in the EU and has very low taxes on tobacco products, in order to attract cross border shopping from neighbouring countries. Luxembourg banned smoking in private cars when minors are present and ratified the WHO FCTC Illicit Trade Protocol.

Biggest progress:
20. Austria (35 ▲15). A positive development in Austria with comprehensive and enforced smoke free legislation since 1 November 2019. Austria had the lowest TCS ranking since 2007 but moved from the lowest ranking to number 20 of the list now. Austria was the first European country to ratify the WHO FCTC Illicit Trade Protocol. Price and tax levels remain low.
13. Greece (31 ▲18).  Like in Austria a positive development. New legislation was adopted in 2019 to enforce the 2010 smoke free legislation and it works. Greece moved from ranking 31 in 2016 to ranking 13.
 8. Slovenia (28 ▲20). Slovenia has introduced an impressive list of tobacco control measures which includes plain packaging, advertising ban at the point of sales, display ban and smoking ban in private cars when minors are present. The ranking of Slovenia improved from 28 in 2016 to 8 in 2019.