A new editorial in Tobacco Control marks the 20th anniversary of the Tobacco Control Scale (TCS), a tool that has helped track and compare tobacco control policy implementation across Europe since 2006. Over two decades, the TCS has become a key resource for researchers, advocates and policymakers, highlighting policy gaps and encouraging countries to strengthen tobacco control measures.
Authored by Ariadna Feliu, Luk Joossens and Cristina Martinez, the editorial reflects on the evolution of the TCS and its role in advancing evidence-based tobacco control policies. It also discusses the challenges ahead, including the rise of new nicotine products, digital marketing and the need to better capture policy enforcement and compliance.
The authors conclude that, in an increasingly complex policy environment, the Tobacco Control Scale remains an essential tool for benchmarking progress, supporting accountability and advancing tobacco endgame goals across Europe.
Reference: Feliu A, Joossens L, Martinez C. Celebrating 20 years of the Tobacco Control Scale: Evolving to benchmark and advance policy implementation in a changing context. Tobacco Control 2026;35:423-424. https://doi.org/10.1136/tc-2026-060471
For further information about the Tobacco Control Scale and the latest rankings, visit www.tobaccocontrolscale.org.