28 May, 2025
The European Respiratory Society (ERS) has released a new report – Adoption of Tobacco Endgame Policies in the EU: Can Member States introduce a generational sales ban? – which asserts that the power to introduce a generational sales ban, where it will never be legal to sell tobacco products to people born after a certain date, lies firmly within the competence of EU Member States.
Despite public statements advocating a smoke-free future, the tobacco industry continues to create substantial profits selling products that are known to be harmful to human health: over eight million people are dying each year as a result of commercial combustible tobacco, 700,000 of which are in the EU.
At the heart of the new ERS report is a clear and actionable pathway that Member States can apply to introduce a generational sales ban. The report found that almost seven out of ten adolescents and young adults are in favour of a tobacco-free generation policy. The report also identifies areas for further research and actions the European Commission should take to support Member States.
With high levels of public support towards tobacco endgame, ERS believes the moment to implement tobacco endgame policies has arrived. Speaking about the report, Dr Filippos Filippidis (Chair of the ERS Tobacco Control Committee) said: “The ERS report brings much-needed clarity: EU Member States have both the authority and a clear legal pathway to adopt generational tobacco sales bans. Protecting future generations from the harms of tobacco is not only possible, but lawful, proportionate, and increasingly urgent. Now is the time for bold public health leadership to drive us closer to ending the tobacco epidemic.”
For expert insights into the report, tune in to the latest episode of our Lung Health Matters podcast: Can EU countries introduce a generational sales ban.
Tobacco consumption remains one of the leading causes of preventable illness and premature death in the EU. Learn more about ERS advocacy activities related to tobacco control.