Why not ban tobacco instead of its advertising?
• Smoking prevalence among adults in the European Union was 33% in 1995 (7). Most smokers continue to smoke without being able to stop “freely”. Through nicotine, tobacco is powerfully addictive. Addiction undermines freedom of action by diminishing the ability to choose not to smoke. A smoker who makes a serious attempt to stop smoking has less than a 5 % chance of being off cigarettes a year later (8). A ban on tobacco would lead to an illegal market, comparable to the illegal market for alcohol during the unsuccessful prohibition period in the USA. • If tobacco were to be introduced on to the market now, it would certainly be banned. Tobacco has existed in Europe for more than 500 years and the widespread and addictive power of smoking makes it impossible to ban the product. • The marketing of certain types of tobacco for oral use has been prohibited by Directive 92/41/CEE in the European Community since July 1992. This prohibition was only possible as the use of this type of produc
