SS 16.00-17.30 Special sessions

THE DANISH STRATEGY FOR SMOKING PREVENTION

The Danish Council on Smoking and Health is appointed by the Danish Minister of Health in accordance with an act from 1987. The Council is autonomous and consists of 7 members, representing different professions. The Council is appropriated with the amount of 10,3 mio. d.kr. a year (1.5 mio. ECU). The activities are carried out by a secretariat of 8 persons.

The overall objectives for the Council are to reduce the number of active smokers as much as possible and that nobody involuntarily is exposed to passive smoking. In order to achieve the overall objectives the Council has set up sub-objectives concerning children, recruitment of new smokers, no-smoking environments and quit smoking.

Most of the smoking prevention activities in Denmark are carried out in a close cooperation with The Danish Cancer Society and The Danish Heart Foundation which are the most important nongovernmental organisations working with respect to tobacco and health. This cooperation means a very high reinforcement of the informative activities in Denmark.

The prevalence of smoking in Denmark among adult people is now for men (> 15 years): 36% and for women (> 15 years): 35%. The annual decrease in smoking has for many years been about 1% for men, but there has only been a smaller decrease in smoking rate for women.

Main campaigns: "The Non-Smoking Year-Group". A five-year project launched in 1990 by the Council. Its objective is to influence an entire year-group of pupils in the primary schools nationwide. A new Non-Smoking Year-Group was launched in 1995. "When Education Goes up in Smoke". A joint project by the Council, the Danish Cancer Society and the Danish Heart Foundation. The aim is to attain the implementation of non-smoking policies by all Danish primary and secondary schools. "Stop 95" and "Stop 96". A joint project by the Council, the Danish Cancer Society and the Danish Heart Foundation. The aim is to ensure opportunities, materials and facilities for those who are motivated to quit smoking. The aim is also to ensure high commitment in quit-smoking activities from local organisations and key persons.

Conclusion:

The number of smokers in the Danish population has been steadily decreasing during the last years. One of the reasons for this is the campaigns for a better smoking policy in the different parts of the population. A close cooperation between governmental and non-governmental organisations can be recommended also in western countries.

Conclusion:
Smoke Free Europe Conference Abstracts - 19 SEP 1996

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