˝Our primary task is deterring young people from smoking. The best way to do this is to make smoking unattractive, to curb the marketing of tobacco products specifically aimed at the younger population and to clearly show the consequences of smoking. Smoking should not be ‘cool’,˝ said MEP and member of the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety Dubravka Šuica in today's debate at the plenary session in Strasbourg on new rules to regulate tobacco products.

A new EU law provides stricter rules for advertising of tobacco products. A larger portion of packaging will have to be covered with warning pictures, thin packages specifically aimed at the young female population will be prohibited, and there is discussion on the gradual abolition of flavoured cigarettes.

In her speech, Šuica took a strict stance against smoking: ˝Emotionally, I would be for a smoking ban, however, since I uphold freedom of choice and decision-making, then I need to be realistic and say that a ban is not the solution. We should deter people from smoking. The number of 700,000 deaths a year in Europe in stupefying as is that 10,000 people in Croatia die annually from smoking. We are faced with the problems of depopulation and therefore we really should pay great attention to prevent marketing scams.˝

˝When it comes to the e-cigarette which is popular today, it is popular but is not a medicine and should not be qualified as a medicine. Why should e-cigarettes only available in pharmacies and at higher prices? I uphold that tobacco products be regulated to the maximum,˝ concluded Šuica.