Switzerland, a stronghold of cigarette manufacturers' influence in Europe

Switzerland is in the penultimate place in the new Tobacco Industry Interference Index, and in last place in Europe. This poor score clearly underlines that Switzerland is the European stronghold of the tobacco industry, which finds in this country a very favourable reception for its influence actions, to the detriment of public health.[1].

Since 2018, the General Tobacco Industry Interference Index has aimed to assess the degree of interference by tobacco companies in dozens of countries around the world, and their ability to implement good governance practices to protect themselves from the influence of the tobacco industry. Based on twenty indicators, it measures the efforts of governments to implement measures to protect public policies. The higher the score the country obtains, the greater the influence of manufacturers.

Switzerland under the influence of the tobacco industry

With 92 points out of 100, Switzerland, which has still not ratified the World Health Organization's Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), is experiencing very strong interference from cigarette manufacturers. According to the Swiss Association for the Prevention of Smoking, this influence of the tobacco industry in the public debate has very concrete repercussions. After more than six years of work, the Swiss Parliament adopted a "disappointing" law on tobacco products in October, leaving Switzerland as the most permissive country in Europe in terms of advertising in favor of smoking. A similar diagnosis had been made by the Swiss Minister of Health himself, emphasizing that The new legislation would be insufficient to lead to a reduction in consumption. Along the same lines, taxes have not increased since 2013, even though they are the most effective and cost-effective lever for reducing smoking prevalence.

The human and financial cost of tobacco industry influence

The strong influence of the tobacco industry on public decision-making in Switzerland comes at a high price. Every year, 9,500 people die in the country as a result of smoking, both active and passive. In addition, tobacco consumption also represents a burden on public finances, since the health and productivity loss costs related to tobacco alone cost the state 10 billion Swiss francs per year, or nearly 9.5 billion euros. In comparison, tobacco tax revenues generate only 6.5 billion francs in Switzerland.

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[1] Swiss Association for the Prevention of Smoking, Tobacco Industry Interference Index: Switzerland second to last worldwide, 02/11/2021, (accessed 03/02/2021)