Finland sets to wipe out tobacco use by 2040

With its success in arresting smoking, Finland has now issued an action plan to eliminate the use of tobacco products by the end of 2040.

The roadmap towards a smoke-free Finland issued by the ministry of social affairs and health aims to stop people starting to smoke and to help smokers give up the habit.

"Through systematic work we have been able to substantially reduce smoking in Finland," Susanna Huovinen, minister of health and social services in Finland was quoted as saying.

The plan focuses on preventing children and young people from picking up smoking.

"We know that smoking usually starts in adolescence. The plan, in particular wants to protect children and young people from tobacco. The majority of smokers regret having started smoking at a young age," Huovinen added.

Among the measures that Finland aims to roll out to make the country smoke-free include unbranded packaging, regular tax hikes, extending smoke-free habitats, blocking market access for new tobacco products and help smokers kick the butt.

In addition to health promotion measures, changes to legislation are set out as well as better ways of implementing the current legislation.

In Finland, smoking has declined for many years. In 2013, 16 percent of Finnish in the age group of 15-64 year smoked daily.

According to the adolescent health and lifestyle survey, 13 percent of Finnish in the age group of 14-18 years used tobacco products daily in 2013 compared to 26 percent in 2001, Good News from Finland reported.