Photo: Flickr/justin_elbert

Written by Bea Aranyi

Long ago smokers could smoke anywhere they wanted to and non-smokers had no rights. Smoking was allowed everywhere, indoor, outdoor as well as on public transport. The media was full of indirect and direct tobacco advertisements, there were tobacco posters on the streets and people learned the habit from each other.

Nowadays the European Union takes control of it, and fighting for a healthier world became one of its most important projects. 5 million people dies all over the world in diseases connected with heavy smoking. Without any changes in habits and politics this number can double in 2020. In the European Union smoking is still the top cause of death. Every year 650 000 people dies in diseases connected to this bad habit.

Photo: Flickr/justin_elbert