May 2016

The new Tobacco Products Directive (TPD2) dramatically tightens regulation of cigarettes, rolling tobacco and e-cigarettes. Yet, it is unclear that it will lead to improved health outcomes.

The last two decades have seen an increasingly restrictionist approach in public health measures on smoking. But the prevalence curve has flattened, not steepened, during this period. There is no visible correlation between restrictions on smoking and smoking prevalence.