Which policies effectively enable smoking cessation? Evidence from the European Union
Abstract
Purpose
To examine the determinants of smoking cessation and tobacco consumption in the European Union (EU) countries. Specifically, the paper seeks to examine the role of smoking risk perceptions and anti‐smoking regulation.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper utilizes multivariate analysis of an EU representative survey.
Findings
From all anti‐smoking policies examined, regulatory and information policies seem to show some influence on the cessation decision. Furthermore, once individuals decide to quit smoking they tend to perceive smoking risks differently.
Research limitations/implications
The main policies influencing smoking cessation in the EU are informational campaigns and regulation policies. However, tobacco price does not seem to influence smoking cessation such as advertising.
Practical implications
Regulation is largely associated with smoking cessation due to the role of social interactions of smoking and thus we might expect risk regulation policies to continue to impose constraints on the capacity of smokers to freely smoke.
Originality/value
The use of a common questionnaire for a sample representative of EU countries. The specific consideration of regulatory variables and risk perceptions.
Keywords
Citation
Costa, J. and Mossialos, E. (2006), "Which policies effectively enable smoking cessation? Evidence from the European Union", International Journal of Social Economics, Vol. 33 No. 1, pp. 77-100. https://doi.org/10.1108/03068290610636442
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2006, Emerald Group Publishing Limited