Switzerland: tobacco and nicotine consumption on the rise among young people

The Addiction Switzerland Foundation has published its Swiss Panorama of Addictions 2024, reporting in particular an increase in the consumption of nicotine products among young people, at the same time as that of tobacco. The authors of the report call for the implementation of substantial tax increases, and to combat the influence of the tobacco industry.[1].

Consumption of electronic cigarettes on the rise in Switzerland

A 2022 Swiss national survey shows an increase in the consumption of tobacco and nicotine products among adolescents. Around a third of fifteen-year-olds reported having used at least one of these products in the thirty days preceding the survey, compared to 30% in 2018. This increase is explained in particular by the appearance of puffs on the Swiss market. Thus, the report points to an increase in e-cigarettes among young women aged 15, who are now 8% to have consumed it frequently (at least 10 days during the last month). The report also highlights that imports of nicotine pouches increased by 37% between 2020 and 2021.

Tobacco consumption among young people a concern

This increase in the consumption of nicotine products is coupled with an increase in the consumption of tobacco products among Swiss adolescents. First, the report highlights the absence of a decrease in the consumption of traditional cigarettes among young people, with 7 % of boys and 6 % of girls aged 15 still having consumed them at least ten days in the 30 days preceding the survey. Among 13-year-olds, while frequent cigarette consumption remains uncommon, the proportion of young people who reported having consumed at least one cigarette in the month has doubled since 2018, and now stands at 6%.

New tobacco products on the rise in Switzerland

Beyond the issue of youth consumption, the available data show a diversification of the tobacco market. Between 2016 and 2023, the number of manufactured cigarettes sold in Switzerland decreased by more than 10%. By comparison, the decrease observed between 2016 and 2022 in France was nearly 30% for industrial cigarettes. The report also highlights a sharp increase in imports of rolling tobacco between 2014 and 2022 (+50%) to reach around 1,000 tonnes per year. Other tobacco products also appear to be experiencing strong growth: according to information from manufacturer Philip Morris, the market share of the heated tobacco product IQOS will now stand at 11% in 2023, an increase of 100% since 2021. Snus imports also increased by 50% between 2021 and 2023.

Taxation, plain packaging, interference: the report's recommendations

According to the report, these results can be largely explained by the interference practices of manufacturers in political life in Switzerland. In particular, the authors believe that the tobacco industry holds "the majority of Parliament under its thumb" and is lobbying for watering down the implementation of the popular initiative "Children without tobacco", on advertising aimed at young people. In light of this observation, the report calls on the public authorities to implement a policy of significant tax increases on tobacco, a total ban on advertising, or even plain packaging for tobacco products. Furthermore, the authors of the study stress the need to provide better incentives to quit smoking, by having nicotine substitutes reimbursed by health insurance funds. Finally, the report calls for Swiss public policies to be protected from the influence of the tobacco industry. More specifically, the report proposes excluding manufacturers from consultations or committee meetings, and also prohibiting or making public meetings between public authorities and the tobacco industry. Finally, the authors consider that "donations to political parties and figures are no longer acceptable, nor are [...] collaborations between universities and the tobacco industry". Indeed, the various studies conducted regularly highlight the strong influence of the tobacco industry lobby in public policies in Switzerland.

©Generation Without Tobacco

FT

[1] Addiction Switzerland, Swiss Panorama of Addictions 2024, Young people: more vulnerable and not sufficiently protected – we must act now!, 2024, (accessed 03/26/2024)