Most EU countries passed laws between 2002 and 2009 raising the tobacco purchase age to 18. And they also introduced regulations on how and where they can advertise smoking, how the packaging looks, and even where the products are displayed.

The EU and Asia are doing a great job protecting their people from harmful US goods and services. On the other hand, South America and Africa are poor continents with little power to negotiate.

In the UK, the single most effective reduction in the number of people smoking was the ban on smoking in public and indoor spaces.

We went from being up in arms to complete acceptance of this as the norm shockingly fast. Well under a year.

I live in a European country now that prides itself on "individual freedom", and basically can not visit outdoor public places. When I suggest an establishment ban smoking on their terrace, they find it unthinkable. This was the very reaction people in the UK had, _until it got passed in law and everyone was fine with it_