Switzerland Ranks Near Bottom in Europe for Tobacco Control.

Switzerland ranks among the worst-performing countries in Europe for tobacco control, according to a new report published by the Swiss Association for Tobacco Prevention (AT).

The index places Switzerland second from last out of 37 European countries assessed, highlighting significant gaps in smoking prevention policies compared to other nations.

Only Bosnia and Herzegovina scored lower in the ranking. Meanwhile, Ireland, the United Kingdom, and the Netherlands topped the list as the strongest performers in tobacco control measures.

The report groups Switzerland with several Eastern European countries, as well as Italy and the Balkans, reflecting its relatively weak regulatory framework on smoking compared to its Western European peers.

Among neighbouring countries, France ranked highly at 4th place, while Austria placed 22nd and Germany 25th, both significantly ahead of Switzerland’s 36th position.

The findings suggest that Switzerland continues to lag behind in implementing strict tobacco regulations, including measures related to smoking bans, advertising restrictions, and prevention policies.

Health experts argue that stronger public health strategies are needed to reduce smoking rates and improve long-term health outcomes across the country.