A study led by the Tobacco Control Unit (UCT) has conducted a qualitative review of the European Commission’s Special Eurobarometer surveys on the consumption of tobacco and related products. The authors of the study have analysed a total of 11 waves of the survey between 1992 and 2023 with the aim of identifying the available indicators of these products and assessing their temporal comparability to better understand the potential uses of these data.
The European Commission’s special tobacco surveys are widely used as comparable and representative data across the European Union for monitoring consumption patterns. Despite their widespread use, some challenges still persist , such as inconsistencies in survey timelines and variations in information collected across waves.
According to the study, published in the journal Tobacco Induced Diseases , conventional cigarette use was consistently assessed across waves, allowing for comparisons over time. Starting in 2009, surveys expanded to include e-cigarette use; starting in 2012, surveys included various combustion products, and starting in 2020, heated tobacco products. However, data on intensity of use and initiation are still limited. While indicators for second-hand smoke exposure and smoking cessation were present across multiple waves, their comparability is hampered by variations in question wording and responses.
The research concludes that there are still some challenges in using Eurobarometer surveys for the temporal estimation of tobacco-related burden. However, these surveys remain a valuable and unique tool for monitoring the consumption of tobacco and related products across the European Union. To further improve their usefulness, the study authors recommend periodic re-evaluation by tobacco control experts to ensure that the surveys maintain comparability with previous data.