Tobacco use in the Netherlands is no longer declining and is instead increasing, raising concerns among public health experts and policymakers. In particular, the rapid rise of vaping among young people, as well as the growing presence of illicit products, is drawing attention.
In response, researchers Dominique Mollet and Justin Lindeboom (University of Groningen), together with Vincent Delhomme and Richard Linnér (Leiden University), conducted a study commissioned by the parliamentary Committee on Health, Welfare and Sport from the Dutch Parliament (Tweede Kamer). The research examines possible new tobacco control measures, with a particular focus on non-tax interventions and the scope allowed under European Union law.
The study assesses the effectiveness, legal feasibility and practical limitations of a range of policy options, including price-related measures, sales bans, medicalisation approaches, deposit schemes for electronic tobacco and related products, and the regulation of product characteristics.
The findings underline the importance of tobacco control and call for further action to better protect public health. They also highlight the need to ensure that the European legal framework can accommodate more ambitious measures, and, where necessary, to support its further development.
The study (in Ducth) is here available.
