Table 2 Strategies and interventions recommended by the Tobacco Control 2020 Committee (Summary version)

TAXATION OF TOBACCO PRODUCTS AND USE OF REGULATORY MECHANISMS

Increase in taxation on all tobacco products, imports and local.

Preventing exposure to SHS Absolute ban on smoking in public places including workplaces; Ban on smoking in special open spaces like public swimming pools, beaches, bus stops and train stations; Ban on smoking inside private motor vehicles where minors are present.

Advertising prohibition/Disclosure of ingredients/Preventing conflict of interest in research

LEGISLATION

Prohibition of advertising tobacco products using any form of media; Prohibition of tobacco industry sponsorship; prohibition of point of sale advertising, together with an obligation to display a color poster outlining health damages from smoking at point of sale; Packaging to be labelled with large graphic warnings including information on smoking cessation; Obligatory disclosure by tobacco companies of all ingredients, and substances released upon lighting tobacco products including information on toxicology of said substances; Obligatory testing of tobacco products by the local authorities funded by the tobacco companies as per FCTC recommendations; Restriction of Academic Bodies from receiving sponsorship or research grants from tobacco companies.

Restriction on Tobacco Sales Prohibition of tobacco sales from automatic vending machines; Prohibition on sales of tobacco products via the internet or in shops exempted from full taxation (duty free) and in any other way without full taxation.

ENFORCEMENT

Effective enforcement of all tobacco related legislation including limitation of SHS exposure prohibition of sales to minors, advertising, warning labels, illegal trade.

PROMOTION AND SUPPORT FOR SMOKING CESSATION

Telephone hotline for smoking cessation counselling and support; Smoking cessation workshops; Individual smoking cessation counselling; Screening of smoking status of all patients by physician or other medical staff and recording in the patient's file; Brief counselling by physician, nurse or medical team members, use of ABC counselling method; Use of over-the-counter (OTC) Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) or doctor-prescribed pharmacological agents for smoking cessation; Medication in addition to counselling; Counselling in addition to medication; Intensive (8 session) counselling in addition to medication; Counselling adolescents; Focusing of advice on smoking cessation on the pregnant population; Training of health care teams about smoking cessation counselling therapy; Subsidizing ("basket of health services") proven pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatments for smoking cessation; Development and distribution of materials for "self help" smoking cessation; School based smoking cessation programs

MASS MEDIA

Combination of mass media campaigns with other tobacco control efforts (legislation, community programs, schools etc); Improving the public's knowledge of how mass media influence attitudes to smoking; Prohibition of advertising or sponsorship by tobacco companies, including point of sale advertising; Establishment of an internet based support service; Changing the media's depiction of a "smoking world" by minimizing images of smoking celebrities, etc; Decreasing the presentation of smokers (especially of cigarettes) in movies, television, and the theatre;

COMMUNITY INTERVENTIONS

Smoking cessation interventions in the workplace; Implementation of "Smoke Free Schools" policy; School based programs for smoking prevention; Implementation of "Smoke free Israel Defense Forces (IDF)" policy; Program for parents and teachers to prevent children's exposure to SHS.

SURVEILLANCE

Development of national surveillance systems, including Surveillance of population smoking behaviour; Participation in the "Global Youth Surveillance System" or another similar system advocated by the WHO, which includes surveys of students, teachers and schools regarding smoking and related activities; Surveillance of exposure to secondhand smoke, knowledge and attitudes towards smoking according to WHO guidelines; Monitoring of governmental actions on tobacco control policy (including Knesset and other activities); Monitoring and reporting of monies received by the government from tobacco sales or other activities; Monitoring of governmental and HMO expenditures due to tobacco use; Monitoring of tobacco industry activities to promote tobacco use; Monitoring tobacco product content (nicotine and other substances)

RESEARCH

Identification or development of successful interventions for prevention of use of tobacco products (especially among youth), cessation for smokers (including adolescent smokers), and prevention of exposure to secondhand smoke (especially among pregnant women, infants, and children). Particular emphasis on the use of social marketing techniques and workplace interventions; Research on the economic and health costs of tobacco in Israel; Research on the health damages caused by smoking; Research into the economic determinants of tobacco use.