New overview of tobacco monitoring in Switzerland

Data on prevalence, consumption patterns among young people, figures on exposure to passive smoking, or mortality – AT Switzerland is offering for the first time an overview of the available monitoring data on tobacco and nicotine consumption in Switzerland, located in the “Data & figures” section of our website.

According to the most recent representative epidemiological data – collected as part of the Swiss Health Survey 2017 – 27.1% of the population aged 15 and over smoke in Switzerland. This percentage varies considerably among different population groups, particularly according to gender and age, but also other socio-demographic and economic characteristics. We see differences in the prevalence of smoking among the linguistic regions as well.

The new “Data & figures” section provides for the first time a comprehensive overview and evaluation of the monitoring data available in Switzerland and specifically takes into account the following aspects in the sub-sections: 1) youth smoking, 2) passive smoking, 3) smoking cessation, 4) morbidity and mortality, and 5) worldwide tobacco consumption. The essential data are mentioned at the beginning of each page. (or perhaps active voice: We post the essential data at the begining of each page.) The explanations are complemented by attractive computer graphics, which allow readers to visualise the complexity of the data.

Monitoring is insufficient in Switzerland

Systematic monitoring of tobacco consumption in Switzerland currently relies almost exclusively on data collected within the framework of two nationally representative studies: the Swiss Health Survey (ESS), which covers the resident population aged 15 and over, and the Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) survey, which covers students aged 11 to 15 years. These surveys provide the primary database for determining the tobacco indicators of the Monitoring System for Addictions and Non-Communicable Diseases (MonAM) of the Federal Office of Public Health. Our new pages also provide an analysis of the monitoring system, its evolution, and its current shortcomings.

As these indicators do not sufficiently cover certain dimensions (such as the level of consumption, new products such as puff bars, etc.), they are supplemented by other indicators that use data sources that are not monitoring instruments (Omnibus survey, etc.). The lack of data on the use of the latest generation of products or devices results in an incomplete assessment of current trends in tobacco consumption in our country.

Furthermore, the data from the surveys mentioned have various shortcomings. In particular, the surveys are very far apart in their timing: The Swiss Health Survey is only carried out every five years and the Health Behaviour in School-aged Children survey only every four years.

Since the arrival of new products (electronic cigarettes and, in particular, new disposable devices such as puff bars, snus, nicotine pouches, heated tobacco products, etc.), the tobacco and nicotine markets have evolved very quickly. Teenagers now heavily use products – for example puff bars – that were virtually unheard of in 2019. Consumption habits are also changing very rapidly.

The current monitoring system, which was already deficient, is now totally inadequate to capture these changes: How many adolescents are using these new products? At what age do they start? What factors influence their consumption? How do these data evolve from one year to the next?

Today, we are in no position to answer these questions.