Swiss pop supports increased anti-smoking measures: report

A Swiss Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH) report stated on Tuesday that in 2014, 53 percent of the Swiss population aged 15 and over supported anti-smoking measures which would see a general ban on cigarette advertising, up from 49 percent three years prior.

FOPH indicated that while all Swiss cantons supported the implementation of such bans, French and Italian speaking areas were particularly against tobacco advertisement, with 58 and 69 percent respectively voicing their support for greater legislative anti-tobacco measures to be put in place.

Figures furthermore show that 57 percent of Swiss women supported a complete ban on tobacco advertising, compared to 49 percent of their male counterparts.

In addition to more stringent laws regulating tobacco-related advertising, the report shows that the confederation's population also considers that the price of cigarettes could be increased.

Regarding the impact of shocking images and text aiming to dissuade people from buying tobacco products, figures show that these measures are having less and less of an impact on the population.

While 45 percent reported thinking twice about the dangers of smoking because of impacting packaging images in 2012, only 38 percent did so last year.

According to authorities, smoking causes the premature death of over 9,000 people in Switzerland every year. Endit