University Report: Tobacco Control Policies, Strategies, and Outcomes

This report provides a comprehensive analysis of tobacco control policies, examining their objectives, scope, and effectiveness in addressing the global issue of tobacco use. It delves into the burden of tobacco consumption, highlighting its impact on public health and the prevalence of related diseases. The report reviews various tobacco control strategies, including awareness programs, regulatory policies, and interventions aimed at preventing youth initiation and promoting cessation. It assesses the successes of these policies, such as declining tobacco consumption rates and smoke-free environments, while also acknowledging setbacks like the persistence of tobacco use. The report further explores specific initiatives, such as those implemented in Australia, and concludes by emphasizing the need for enhanced policies to combat the global tobacco epidemic. The report's findings underscore the importance of continued efforts to reduce tobacco consumption and protect public health.

Running head: TOBACCO CONTROL POLICIES
Tobacco Control Policies
Name of the student:
Name of the University:
Author Note:

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Table of Contents
1. Introduction..................................................................................................................................2
2. Project objectives.........................................................................................................................2
3. Project scope................................................................................................................................3
4. Literature review..........................................................................................................................3
5. Conclusion...................................................................................................................................9
6. References..................................................................................................................................11
7. Appendix....................................................................................................................................13

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1. Introduction
Tobacco and its extensive use among the people is one of the major causes of the
premature death all around the world. Huge numbers of lives are claimed by the extensive use of
tobacco. This issue has been prevalent since years, and yet have not been completely eradicated.
Consumption of tobacco is harmful for the human body and causes deadly diseases such as
cancer (Bosdriesz et al. 2015). Even with various tobacco control programs and initiatives all
around the world, people have not been conscious enough to eradicate the consumption of
tobacco completely. Millions of people have lost their lives in the extensive use of tobacco.
World-wide tobacco prevention activities and campaigns have been taking place actively.
Consciousness in all levels be it school, colleges or workplace have been growing up to ensure
that public health be maintained and people refrain from the extensive use of tobacco (Bosdriesz
et al. 2015). The government, along with the private organizations have initiated awareness
campaigns, to spread the malicious effects of tobacco on the health of human beings. The
tobacco control policies have been successful to some extent. Yet there are certain setbacks as
well, that prevents eradication of the consumption of tobacco.
2. Project objectives
The objectives of the project are:
 To analyse the burden of the use of tobacco
 To highlight the tobacco control strategies
 To analyse the tobacco control success
 To identify the setback of the tobacco control policies
 To recommend enhancement of the tobacco control and prevention policies

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3. Project scope
The scope of this project is wide spread. It encompasses people all around the world. This
is because, the consumption and use of tobacco is a major global issue and is a major concern
worldwide (Chelwa et al. 2015). People all over the world have been spreading the word of
prevention against the consumption of tobacco. Initially, the issue of consumption of tobacco
was aimed towards the developed countries, where the people had high affordability. However,
with time, the tobacco products became easily available, thus being consumed by people of the
developing countries as well (Bosdriesz et al. 2015). Thus, the scope of the project is wide and
the issue highlighted is a global one.
The consciousness among the people regarding the adverse effects of tobacco has been
rising with time. People are becoming aware of the negative health effects of tobacco
consumption (Schotte et al. 2017). With the wide spread of the awareness programs, people who
are addicted to smoking and tobacco consumption are becoming more aware of the adverse
health effects that they cause to their friends and family members due to passive smoking
(Chelwa et al. 2015). Second hand smoking is equally harmful for the human beings. Thus
people have been trying to refrain from the use of tobacco (Bosdriesz et al. 2015). However,
since the issue has been prevalent for a long time, along with is wide spread, hence complete
eradication might not be possible in the near future.
4. Literature review
Tobacco and its use is one of the major causes of various diseases among the youths all
around the world. The extensive use of Tobacco is the single most preventable cause of various
disabilities as well as deaths in UK, US and well as in Australia (Chelwa et al. 2015). More than

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half million people lose their lives due to premature death with the wide use of tobacco
(Bosdriesz et al. 2015). Even with wide spread awareness programs all over the world, the lack
of consciousness and prolonged use of tobacco has claimed millions of young lives all around
the world (Moreland et al. 2016). Once, a major problem in the developed countries, the issue of
the use of tobacco has hit the developing countries as well (Nargis et al. 2015). The low price of
the products of tobacco, the countries with low affordability has also been able to afford tobacco
products (Schotte et al. 2017). Thus, the problem that was limited to only the developed
countries, have also affected the developing countries (Bosdriesz et al. 2015). Millions of dollars
are being invested in the promotion of anti-tobacco campaigns, yet the consciousness is not
being spread (Chelwa et al. 2015). Smoking cigarettes is not only the most commonly used form
of tobacco, but also the most harmful one. The wide spread use of cigarettes not only affects the
smoker, but also has adverse effects on the passive smokers (Owili et al. 2017).
Burden of the tobacco use
The use of tobacco is one of the most wide spread adverse habit, that is adopted by
millions of people all around the world. The public health is affected along with causing deadly
diseases such as cancer (Brathwaite et al. 2015). A report highlighted the fact that most of the
smokers all around the world started the habit of smoking at the age of 18 years. Thus, the main
target group who fall into the prey of deadly tobacco is the young adults, who continue the habit
of smoking, in the later years of their lives (Bosdriesz et al. 2015). Thus, in order to curb down
the habit of smoking, the youths have to be prevented from getting into the habit itself.
Tobacco control strategies

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One of the most effective tobacco control strategies is the tobacco control awareness
programs. In the year 2007, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) released a report called “ Ending the
Tobacco Problem”, highlighted two main strategies for eliminating the use of tobacco (Schotte et
al. 2017). The first is strengthening the implementing the traditional tobacco control measures
(Bosdriesz et al. 2015). The second startgey is to change the regulatory policies, to incorporate
policy innovations. The goals of the tobacco control program include the following:
1. Prevention of the youths from getting into the habit of smoking or consumption of tobacco in
any other form (Brathwaite et al. 2015)
2. Promotion of the quitting movement of consumption of tobacco among the youths as well as
the adults
3. Elimination of the exposure to passive smoking (Owili et al. 2017)
4. Identification of disparities related to tobacco, and its elimination
5. Assisting the smokers to quit the habit of tobacco consumption (Schotte et al. 2017)
6. Spreading the light of awareness among more people
It is important that tobacco prevention programs be conducted in the schools as well as colleges,
such that consciousness among the youths could be incorporated. The prevention of the use of
tobacco is to be initiated in the initial years of adulthood, such that they are prevented from
entering into the consumption of tobacco (Bosdriesz et al. 2015). Moreover, along with the
initiative of the government, the schools and colleges also has a major role to play, to create
consciousness among the youths and young adults.

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Another strategy that could be adopted by the government is to impose high tax on the
products containing tobacco (Moreland et al. 2016). This will result in increase in the price of the
products, thus deflecting most of the youths from consuming tobacco. The media has also been
sufficiently active in preventing the extensive use of tobacco (Schotte et al. 2017).
Tobacco control success
The tobacco control policies have achieved considerable success with time. According
to a report, the rate of consumption of tobacco has decreased significantly from the 1990s to
2003 (Henderson et al. 2016). This decline in the rate of tobacco consumption could be
considered as the success of the tobacco control policies (Schotte et al. 2017). In the year 2012,
only 6.7% of the students of middle school were recorder to use tobacco once in 30 days (Wipfli
et al. 2016). Thus, the significant dip in the consumption of tobacco is considered to be the
success of the tobacco control policies (Ribisl et al. 2016). The enhancement of the public health
and the awareness that has been spread all over the world is the success of the tobacco control
policies (Bosdriesz et al. 2015).
Creating smoke free environment
The smoke free laws ensure that the public places and workplaces are kept smoke free.
This is helpful in preventing passive smoking. This also encourages people to quit the extensive
use of tobacco in the public places (Brathwaite et al. 2015). Along with reducing the health
impact, this policy helps in reducing the environmental pollution as well.
Restricted access of the youths to the point of sale

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Another initiative that has been successful in the tobacco control policy is the
restricted access of the youths to the point of sales (Schotte et al. 2017). Shops selling tobacco
products are prevented to be set up at places near schools and colleges (Schotte et al. 2017).
Moreover, the youths also have restricted access to the point of sales of tobacco, such that they
could be prevented from the extensive use of tobacco (Bosdriesz et al. 2015).
Tobacco control setbacks
However, active initiatives are being taken all over the world and the tobacco
prevention campaigns are being conducted, yet there are certain setbacks in the tobacco control
policies (Moreland et al. 2016). The setbacks include the lack of complete eradication of the use
of tobacco and prevention of the deadly diseases caused by them (Nargis et al. 2015). Moreover,
even after various campaigns and awareness programs, the people are not able to quit the habit of
smoking or consumption of tobacco in any other form (Ribisl et al. 2016). Though the death rates
due to the consumption of tobacco, has decreased, however, it is not completely mitigated.

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Figure 1: Selected tobacco control policies, 2010
(Source: "Tobacco Free Initiative", 2017 )
Tobacco control initiatives in Australia
The initiative of Tobacco control in Australia could be traced back at 1997, when the
National Tobacco Campaign was launched. This was the first initiative taken against the
extensive use of tobacco (Yong et al. 2015). In 1999, the changes to tobacco exercise were made.
In the year 2000, the Australian government banned smoking inside the cafes as well as the
restaurants that are not recognized as smoking zones (Ribisl et al. 2016). This major initiative
was taken by the Australian government to ban the extensive use of tobacco (Schotte et al. 2017).

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In the year 2004, the New South Wales (NSW), announced that consumption of tobacco and
smoking indoors or in licence premises would be phased out by 2007. In 2005, the
commencement of the anti-smoking campaigns was a major initiative and it reduced the
extensive consumption of tobacco to a notable extend. In 2006, the Australian government made
it compulsory to include the health warnings on the tobacco packaging (Yong et al. 2015). This
initiative was taken such that the smokers could at least be made aware of the harmful effctes of
tobacco, while they indulge in tobacco consumption. In 2006, ACCC National tobacco campaign
was launched in Australia. This initiative was also an important one in preventing the ectensive
use of tobacco among the people of Australia (Ribisl et al. 2016). In 2007, it was compulsory to
ensure that the enclosed public places such as clubs, restaurants, casinos and nightclubs were
made smoke free (Schotte et al. 2017). In 2008, the government of Australia increased the
amount of penalty imposed on selling tobacco as well as non-tobacco smoking products to the
minors. Thus, the shops selling the tobacco products, refrained from selling these to the minors
(Ribisl et al. 2016). This, to some extend prevented the minors from indulging into the habit of
smoking and tobacco consumption. Even though various initiatives are being taken, yet the
eradication of the use of tobacco could not be achieved (Yong et al. 2015). In 2009, a ban was
imposed on smoking inside the cars, having children. This prevented the risk of passive smoking
of the children. In 2010, the tax imposed on tobacco and its products were increased by 25%.
This resulted in the increase in the price of the tobacco products, thus preventing the people to
indulge in extensive consumption of tobacco. In 2012, the initiative of the Smoke-free
environment Act 2000 prohibited smoking in public places, other than the designated smoking
zones. This initiate was an effective one and ensured that passive smoking or second hand
smoking was prevented (Schotte et al. 2017). In 2012, the plain packing initiative was launched

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in Australia (Greenland et al. 2016). Plain tobacco packing refers to the standardized and
homogenous packing that ensures that all branding is removed. This includes the removal of
colours, images, trademarks, company logo and print only health warnings and the intoxicating
effects of tobacco (Greenland et al. 2016). This initiative aims to remove all branding of the
products containing tobacco, along with spreading consciousness among the people. The plain
packing initiative has also been successful to some extend to reduce the extensive use of tobacco.
Recommendations
Various recommendations are proposed in order to enhance the rate of success of the
tobacco control and reduce the rate of setback all around the world. It is recommended that the
schools and colleges take initiative to prevent the students from consuming tobacco extensively
(Chelwa et al. 2015). Moreover, it is also recommended that the schools and colleges take strict
actions against the students found to consume tobacco (Schotte et al. 2017). The government
could identify smoking zones, beyond which consumption of tobacco will impose high penalty.
Along with the government, the parents of the young adults have to be alert and monitor them to
prevent the use of tobacco (Bosdriesz et al. 2015). Plain packing should be encouraged and other
countries in the world who have not yet implemented this policy could make it mandatory
(Greenland et al. 2016). Plain packing will ensure that no branding of the tobacco products are
done, along with ensuring that the health warning are given in big fonts, thus attempting to
spread consciousness among the people. The people also have to be conscious enough (Chelwa
et al. 2015). They should spread the awareness against the consumption of tobacco, thus
preventing passive smoking in public places, which are not smoking zones (Henderson et al.
2016). Increasing the unit price of the tobacco products is also recommended, such that the
youths refrain from the consumption of tobacco (Schotte et al. 2017). Conduction of mass media

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education and awareness campaigns that are endorsed by the celebrities and famous personalities
will attract more people towards the campaign. Reducing the tobacco use disparities is also
recommended.
5. Conclusion
The use of tobacco has been controlled to a large extent; however, the complete
prevention has not been possible yet. The world health organization has taken various initiatives
to spread consciousness among the people all over the world, such that the people could be made
conscious regarding the adverse effects of consumption of tobacco (World Health Organization
2015). This assignment attempts to highlight the adverse effects of consumption of tobacco,
along with the tobacco control policies, its success and setback. It is seen that the tobacco control
policies taken up by the government as well as the private organizations are effective and the
issue has been reduced in intensity. The recommendations mentioned in this assignment could be
followed such that the initiatives of the government could be made successful. Lack of
consciousness among all will doom the positive step that is taken against the use of tobacco.
However, the complete eradication of the issue will not be possible, if each human being in the
society is not determined to end the curses of tobacco from the world.

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6. References
Bosdriesz, J.R., Willemsen, M.C., Stronks, K. and Kunst, A.E., 2015. Patterns of Tobacco
Control Policy Progress in 27 European Countries. Tobacco Regulatory Science, 1(3), pp.254-
264.
Brathwaite, R., Addo, J., Smeeth, L. and Lock, K., 2015. A systematic review of tobacco
smoking prevalence and description of tobacco control strategies in Sub-Saharan African
countries; 2007 to 2014. PLoS One, 10(7), p.e0132401.
Chelwa, G., van Walbeek, C. and Blecher, E., 2015. Evaluating South Africa's Tobacco Control
Initiative: A Synthetic Control Approach. Economic Research Southern Africa Working Paper
Series 2015, Working Paper, 566.
Greenland, S.J., Johnson, L. and Seifi, S., 2016. Tobacco manufacturer brand strategy following
plain packaging in Australia: implications for social responsibility and policy. Social
Responsibility Journal, 12(2), pp.321-334.
Henderson, P.N., Roeseler, A., Moor, G., Clark, H.W., Yazzie, A., Nez, P., Nez, C., Sabo, S. and
Leischow, S.J., 2016. Advancing smoke-free policy adoption on the Navajo Nation. Tobacco
control, 25(Suppl 1), pp.i26-i31.
Moreland-Russell, S., Combs, T., Schroth, K. and Luke, D., 2016. Success in the city: the road to
implementation of Tobacco 21 and Sensible Tobacco Enforcement in New York City. Tobacco
control, 25(Suppl 1), pp.i6-i9.

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Nargis, N., Thompson, M.E., Fong, G.T., Driezen, P., Hussain, A.G., Ruthbah, U.H., Quah, A.C.
and Abdullah, A.S., 2015. Prevalence and patterns of tobacco use in Bangladesh from 2009 to
2012: evidence from International Tobacco Control (ITC) study. PloS one, 10(11), p.e0141135.
Owili, P.O., Muga, M.A., Pan, W.C. and Kuo, H.W., 2017. Indoor secondhand tobacco smoke
and risk of under-five mortality in 23 sub-Saharan Africa countries: A population based study
and meta-analysis. PloS one, 12(5), p.e0177271.
Ribisl, K.M., D’Angelo, H., Evenson, K.R., Fleischhacker, S., Myers, A.E. and Rose, S.W.,
2016. Peer Reviewed: Integrating Tobacco Control and Obesity Prevention Initiatives at Retail
Outlets. Preventing chronic disease, 13.
Schotte, K., Commar, A., Blecher, E. and Prasad, V., 2017. Global challenges in tobacco
control. salud pública de méxico, 59, pp.5-7.
Tobacco Free Initiative. (2017). World Health Organization.
Wipfli, H., Chu, K.H., Lancaster, M. and Valente, T., 2016. Three Eras in Global Tobacco
Control: How Global Governance Processes Influenced Online Tobacco Control
Networking. Global health governance: the scholarly journal for the new health security
paradigm, 10(2).
World Health Organization, 2015. The WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control: 10
years of implementation in the African Region. World Health Organization.
Yong, H.H., Borland, R., Hammond, D., Thrasher, J.F., Cummings, K.M. and Fong, G.T., 2015.
Smokers’ reactions to the new larger health warning labels on plain cigarette packs in Australia:
findings from the ITC Australia project. Tobacco control, pp.tobaccocontrol-2014.

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7. Appendix
Figure 2: Milestones in reduced smoking in Australia
(Source: World Health Organization, 2015)

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Figure 3: Reduction in consumption of Tobacco
(Source: World Health Organization, 2015)

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Figure 4: Implemented policies in Australia
(Source: World Health Organization, 2015)