Where there’s smoke, there’s cancer

The first research showing a link between smoking and lung cancer was published in 1950. More than half a century later, Europeans are beginning to feel its effects.

In March 2004 Ireland became the first country in the world to introduce a comprehensive ban on smoking in the workplace. Malta, Sweden and Italy ban smoking in the workplace but permit smoking in designated rooms in bars and restaurants. A ban on smoking in enclosed workplaces will come into effect in England next year. The majority of EU member states have either introduced or are about to introduce partial bans.

Irishman David Byrne, in his days as European health commissioner, said that he would like to see an EU-wide ban on smoking in public places. The Commission's powers in health issues are limited, but in 2003 Byrne launched the first European anti-smoking campaign, entitled 'Feel Free to Say No'.

Byrne's successor Markos Kyprianou last year launched a 72 million euro anti-smoking programme called HELP with the money allocated to an advertising campaign and online information site.

Behind the scenes, money is pouring into anti-smoking research which feeds back into the campaigns. The Commission's Joint Research Council is looking into the effects of indoor cigarette smoke as one part of a large-scale investigation into air pollution and European health.

The European Network for Smoking Prevention (ENSP) in May published Commission-funded research on the effectiveness of tobacco control policies in all 25 EU countries. A second ENSP/Commission study, on why people smoke, is expected after the summer.

When it comes to research into ways to help addicts stop smoking, however, the most recent results have come from across the Atlantic. A tablet, claiming to be the first that frees smokers of their habit without relying on providing a controlled nicotine 'fix', is likely to hit EU shops next year.

The 'Champix' tablet was developed in US labs and went on sale in American pharmacies last month. The EU Medicines Agency EMEA recommended authorisation of the Pfizer product on Friday (28 July).

The first research showing a link between smoking and lung cancer was published in 1950. More than half a century later, Europeans are beginning to feel its effects.