University of Lausanne and University of Basel researchers found that Switzerland’s ban on cigarette sales to those under 21 failed to prevent young people from smoking, “[achieving] no more than a minimal reduction in tobacco consumption”.
Drs. Armando N. Meier, Reto Odermatt, and Alois Stutzer interviewed more than 80,000 people under the age of 21 between 2001 and 2016 about their cigarette consumption and attitudes toward smoking. The researchers found that the tobacco sales ban did not statistically significantly reduce teen smoking, nor did it statistically significantly affect the perceived danger of smoking but did change attitudes resulting in smokers appearing to be less cool.
The study also revealed that young people simply circumvent the sales ban by getting cigarettes from friends instead of from stores. The study authors attribute this to the low effectiveness of the ban. “We should therefore be aware that bans on cigarette sales – if they are not backed up with police enforcement measures – are unlikely to contribute to a significant reduction in smoking prevalence,” said Stutzer.
Around 27% of Switzerland’s population currently smoke.