title: Support for a tobacco endgame strategy in 18 European countries.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The feasibility of a tobacco endgame strategy, aiming to bring smoking prevalence to near-zero levels, is currently under debate. We provide information on public support for such a strategy in Europe.
  
  
  METHODS
  In 2010 we conducted a face-to-face representative survey in 18 European countries (Albania, Austria, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Croatia, England, Finland, France, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain and Sweden). The present analysis is based on 16,947 individuals aged ≥ 15 years providing information on their attitudes towards a complete ban on the use or sale of tobacco.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall, 34.9% of adults (32.8% in men and 37.0% in women; p<0.001) supported a complete ban strategy on use or sale of tobacco, 41.2% of never, 29.4% of ex- and 25.6% of current smokers. The highest support was observed in southern Europe (42.5%), followed by eastern (39.1%), northern (27.5%) and western Europe (23.0%; p<0.001). A significant inverse trend was observed with both age and education.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Approximately one in three adults (and one in four smokers) supports a comprehensive tobacco endgame intervention. This first study in Europe provides a baseline for evaluating future trends in public support for extreme propositions to end or drastically cut smoking.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, IRCCS - Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche "Mario Negri", Milan, Italy. Electronic address: silvano.gallus@marionegri.it.
authors.forename: Silvano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gallus
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lugo
authors.affiliation: Tobacco Control Unit, Cancer Prevention and Control Program, Institut Català d'Oncologia, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain; Cancer Control and Prevention Group, Institut d'Investigació Biomèdica de Bellvitge, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain; Department of Clinical Sciences, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Esteve
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Fernandez
authors.affiliation: Department for Health & UK Centre for Tobacco Control Studies, University of Bath, Bath, UK.
authors.forename: Anna B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Gilmore
authors.affiliation: International Agency for Research on Cancer, Lyon, France.
authors.forename: Maria E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Leon
authors.affiliation: TobaccoFree Research Institute Ireland, Dublin, Ireland.
authors.forename: Luke
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Clancy
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: La Vecchia
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001294:Attitude to Health; D005060:Europe / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006291:Health Policy / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011639:Public Opinion; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology; D016540:Smoking Cessation; D000074606:Smoking Prevention; D062789:Tobacco Products / Q000600:supply & distribution; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Endgame strategy; Europe; Public support; Tobacco smoking