Smokers lose 10 years of life, already 25,000 Italians have signed up for a 5 euro increase in cigarettes

The entire scientific world in Italia is mobilising in support of the '5 euros against smoking' campaign. Exactly one month after its launch, the process of collecting signatures for a popular initiative bill to increase the cost of all smoking and nicotine inhalation products by 5 euros is already halfway through. 25,000 of the 50,000 signatures needed to submit the bill to Parliament, which will then have to debate it. The campaign is promoted by Aiom (Italian Association of Medical Oncology), Airc Foundation for Cancer Research, Umberto Veronesi Foundation and Aiom Foundation. All citizens of legal age can sign, by going to the Ministry of Justice platform and using the SPID, the CIE (Electronic Identity Card) or the CNS (National Services Card).

Overall life expectancy can be reduced by 20 minutes for every cigarette smoked and people who smoke all their lives lose about 10 years. In Italia, there are an estimated 93,000 deaths each year due to tobacco consumption. "This is the first campaign to collect signatures to arrive at a popular initiative bill realised by scientific societies and it is gaining very important adhesions - say Aiom, Fondazione Airc per la ricerca sul cancro, Fondazione Umberto Veronesi and Fondazione Aiom -. This initiative represents a battle for civilisation, which, within a month of its launch, has already obtained the support of 42 scientific societies and institutions and 22 associations and foundations. Major treatment centres, such as Humanitas, 'Pascale' in Naples, the National Cancer Institute in Milan and the Veneto Oncology Institute, have joined in, as have, among others, the scientific societies of cardiologists, pneumologists and gynaecologists. We are proud of the extraordinary result achieved, because it means that we are on the right track and citizens are sensitive to the role of prevention. We are now asking for a further effort to reach the goal of 50,000 signatures'.

In Italia, the cost of cigarettes is among the lowest in Europe. In our country, almost a quarter of adults are smokers and the prevalence among young people is also worrying. Ten per cent of those under 19 already smoke regularly and the behaviour tends to continue for the rest of their lives. In recent decades, increasingly restrictive smoking laws have been introduced in Italy. "These are important regulations, to protect collective health, which have led to a slight decrease in this dangerous habit," explain Aiom, Fondazione Airc per la ricerca sul cancro, Fondazione Umberto Veronesi and Fondazione Aiom. "However, in order to substantially reduce the number of smokers, we need to intervene on the economic factor, as has already happened in other countries. In particular, the drastic increase in price can dissuade smokers, especially young people, who are among those most exposed to the risks of smoking. According to estimates, a five euro increase in the price of all smoking products may lead to a 37% reduction in overall consumption in the medium term, resulting in a decrease in the incidence of smoking-related diseases. Secondly, the increase in tax revenue brought about by this law can help finance the National Health Service. More resources are needed to continue offering the best care to citizens'.

In our country alone, diseases caused by smoking generate around 26 billion euros in direct and indirect costs. "Too many citizens still smoke - conclude Aiom, Airc Cancer Research Foundation, Umberto Veronesi Foundation and Aiom Foundation -. Tobacco consumption is the main cause of preventable cancer. It is not only lung cancer, but also cancer of the oral cavity, throat, oesophagus, pancreas, colon, bladder, prostate and kidney. Smoking is also the main risk factor for non-neoplastic respiratory diseases, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma, recurrent respiratory infections, and is one of the most important causes of cardiovascular disease'.