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Tobacco control policy
The most effective way to reduce smoking in a population is a policy package – above all raising price through taxation, banning smoking in public places and banning advertising – not only treating people who already smoke.
Why it matters in the exam
Items on this topic ask what the most effective strategy for reducing smoking is (raising taxes and price, especially among young people and those on low incomes), what the World Health Organization MPOWER package includes, what the principle of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) is regarding industry involvement in policy-making, and where smoking is permitted or forbidden under Israeli law. Trends are also tested: a decline in smoking rates over decades, gaps by socioeconomic status, gender and population group, and rising use of electronic cigarettes and heated tobacco products among young people. Further items ask how "reduced-risk" products should be treated – by the precautionary principle and under the same regulation as tobacco products – and the importance of plain packaging, which Israel applied from 2020. At the individual level, brief advice from a physician, medication and behavioural support double the chances of quitting. A key point: the convention obliges states to protect policy from industry influence, so cooperation with tobacco companies on "prevention" programmes is not acceptable. It is also worth knowing the monitoring measures: smoking prevalence, age at starting, exposure to passive smoke at home and at work, and the share who tried to quit in the past year.
Key points
- Raising taxes and price is the most effective measure for reducing smoking.
- MPOWER includes monitoring, protection, help to quit, warnings, advertising bans and tax.
- The Framework Convention on Tobacco Control requires protecting policy from industry influence.
- Israel bans smoking in public places and has applied plain packaging from 2020.
- Brief advice and medication double the chances of quitting.
Summary table
| MPOWER component | What it includes | Example in Israel |
|---|---|---|
| Monitor | Surveys of use and policy | Smoking surveys and the Minister of Health's report |
| Protect | Banning smoking in public places and enclosed workplaces | The Israeli law banning smoking in public places |
| Offer help to quit | Counselling, medication and cessation groups | Cessation workshops in the health funds and drugs in the basket |
| Warn | Graphic warnings and plain packaging | Plain packaging from 2020 |
| Enforce advertising bans | Banning advertising, promotion and sponsorship | Restriction of tobacco advertising and marketing |
| Raise taxes | Raising the price through tax | The most effective measure, especially in young people |
Free exam questions
ברוח האמנה הבינלאומית לפיקוח על הטבק, מהו הצעד החשוב ביותר על מנת להבטיח שהרגולציה על סיגריות אלקטרוניות תגן כראוי על בריאות הציבור? (the question as examined, in Hebrew)
- א. להקל ברגולציית סיגריות אלקטרוניות לעומת סיגריות מסורתיות
- ב. למנוע השפעה של אינטרסים מסחריים ואינטרסים אחרים של חברות מוצרי טבק, עישון ואידוי על מקבלי ההחלטות
- ג. להעלות את המיסים המוטלים על סיגריות אלקטרוניות, אפילו מעל למיסים המוטלים על מוצרי טבק אחרים
- ד. לאסור באופן מוחלט ייצור, ייבוא ושיווק סיגריות אלקטרוניות
מהו העיקרון שעל פיו צריך להתייחס למוצרי טבק חדשים? (the question as examined, in Hebrew)
- א. ההכבדה
- ב. הזהירות המונעת
- ג. אי הוודאות
- ד. הספק
נתון כי היארעות סרטן ריאות בקרב מעשנים הינה 200 ל- ,10,000 בעוד שבקרב לא מעשנים ההיארעות הינה 20 ל- 10,000 . ידוע כי שיעור המעשנים באוכלוסייה הינו .44% מהו ה Attributable Fraction/Risk הנקשר לעישון במעשנים? (the question as examined, in Hebrew)
- א. 90%
- ב. 180 ל - 10,000 מעשנים
- ג. 80%
- ד. 79 ל- 10,000 איש בכלל האוכלוסייה
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Sources
- WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, 2003 (in force 2005) — Demand and supply reduction measures
- WHO, Report on the Global Tobacco Epidemic – the MPOWER package, 2008 and later editions — Six proven policies
- Israel, Prevention of Smoking in Public Places and Exposure to Smoke Law; Restriction on Advertising and Marketing of Tobacco Products Law, 1983, as amended — Smoking bans; advertising and packaging
Sources are given for further reading; the text is written afresh and not copied from them.
Reviewed by the Examqo AI Professor · 2026-11-06. The text may contain errors; when in doubt, check the source.