In the February 2024 issue of Tobacco Control, an article was published by Dr. Tamás Joó, Vice President of MEMT, together with co-authors including Dr. Péter Gaál, President of MEMT. The study examines the effects of a regulation introduced in 2013.
From 2013 onwards, the sale of tobacco products in Hungary was restricted by law exclusively to National Tobacco Shops. The research summarizes how this measure reshaped the domestic tobacco retail market and presents how adolescents’ smoking habits changed as a result.
Since the availability of tobacco shops decreased significantly due to the regulation, the prevalence of smoking among adolescents temporarily declined. However, as the purchase of tobacco products is illegal for minors, alternative access strategies have become more widespread.
The authors emphasize that in order to achieve long-term results, further evidence-based tobacco control strategies and measures are necessary to substantially and sustainably reduce youth smoking.
The full article is available at: https://tobaccocontrol.bmj.com/content/early/2024/02/05/tc-2023-058232