What is a cigarette?
It is a paper tube fitted with a filter and filled with finely chopped tobacco leaves that have been processed and mixed with various additives. A cigarette contains between 8 and 10 mg of nicotine. When lit and the smoke enters the lungs, it releases between 1 and 2 mg of nicotine (an addictive substance) that is absorbed by the body, along with toxic byproducts of combustion. The filter does not mitigate the negative health effects on smokers and may even exacerbate them.
What's the problem?
Cigarette use, in any form, is one of the biggest public health problems in Switzerland. The nicotine in cigarettes is a highly addictive substance that alters brain function and creates a craving for more. Recent studies show that nicotine is also very harmful to the cardiovascular system.
Cigarettes contain a large number of chemicals; more than 4,000 are released into the smoke, and some of them are toxic, including carcinogens.
Cigarette smoking can lead not only to dependence but also to many serious diseases, such as lung cancer, COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), and cardiovascular disease. In Switzerland, nearly 10,000 people die each year as a result of tobacco use (FOPH and Obsan 2026). Among adolescents, nicotine can also impair attention span, learning ability, and emotional regulation.
Many people believe that roll-your-own cigarettes are less harmful than factory-made cigarettes. However, scientific studies contradict this belief. Roll-your-own cigarettes result in a comparable absorption of nicotine and other harmful substances. The type of cigarette paper used also plays an important role. Certain types of paper—such as flavoured, bleached, or fast-burning varieties—sometimes contain higher concentrations of harmful substances, which can increase a smoker’s exposure to these substances.
Secondhand smoke
The smoke emitted by a lit cigarette or exhaled by smokers is also harmful to the health of nonsmokers who are nearby and may inhale it. This is particularly true for children. Passive smoking involves inhaling the same toxic substances, and the levels of some of these substances are even higher than in the smoke inhaled by smokers.
The advertisement specifically targets young people
Advertising campaigns by the tobacco and nicotine industries contribute to the normalization of use. They convey the implicit message to young people that “smoking is commonplace.”
How many young people use drugs?
Consumption of traditional cigarettes
at least once in a lifetime
(in %; HBSC 2022)
According to 2022 data, 3% of 11-year-old girls and 6% of 11-year-old boys have tried a cigarette at least once in their lives. This proportion increases with age: among 15-year-olds, it reaches about one-third, and about 3% smoke every day (HBSC, 2022).
Among young people aged 15 to 19, 13% smoke occasionally and 4% smoke daily (ESL, 2025).
What is the legal framework?
Under the Federal Act on Tobacco Products and Electronic Cigarettes (LTab, in effect since October1, 2024), the supply of tobacco products (cigarettes, heated tobacco products, snus, snuff, cigars, etc.) and nicotine products (electronic cigarettes / e-cigarettes and nicotine pouches) to minors is prohibited. This prohibition applies to both vending machines and online stores: any violation is punishable by law. The minimum age for the sale and free distribution of tobacco products and nicotine products is set at 18 years old throughout Switzerland. Every point of sale must display this prohibition in a visible and legible manner.
For more detailsIn short, what should you keep in mind?
- 1.A cigarette is a tobacco product that, when burned, releases thousands of chemicals, some of which are toxic.
- 2.Nicotine is a substance that creates dependence quickly, even when used only occasionally.
- 3.Long-term smoking is one of the leading causes of several diseases, including lung cancer, COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), and cardiovascular disease.
- 4.Because of secondhand smoke, tobacco use also harms others, especially children. Furthermore, smoking sets a bad example for children and adolescents.
- 5.In Switzerland, the sale or free distribution of tobacco products and nicotine products to individuals under the age of 18 is prohibited.
How can we talk to young people about this?
Before discussing this with young people, it’s helpful to feel comfortable with the topic and have a few pointers to help get the conversation started. As parents, teachers, or youth professionals, you’ll find more information on how to talk to young people about this in the “Your Role” section.