Alcohol, tobacco, sugar: Dahmen calls for measures against drug consumption

Political courage is finally needed for an effective Prevention through environmental conditions to save lives and make healthcare more affordable, said Dahmen. "Medical evidence has been clear for years: It's not primarily knowledge or willpower that determine healthy behavior, but availability, price, and marketing," said Dahmen. "If you really want to change something, you have to start right there." Therefore, consistent advertising and sponsorship restrictions for harmful products are needed.

alcohol , Tobacco and foods containing a lot of sugar should also be kept out of the sight of Children should be banned, said the Green Party's health policy spokesperson. "The distribution of flavorings in tobacco products and the sale of disposable electronic cigarettes must be stopped – not least because they are specifically aimed at young people and have a particularly high potential for addiction."

A "fair cost share by industry of the consequences of their business models" is also necessary. Dahmen pointed out that around 150,000 people die in Germany each year as a result of alcohol, tobacco, and excessive sugar consumption. Secondary diseases such as heart attacks, strokes, and cancer cause €180 billion in annual healthcare costs. Appeals to individual responsibility are no longer sufficient in view of this.

"Germany finally needs a national anti-tobacco strategy and a decisive catalogue of measures to reduce alcohol and sugar consumption," said the health expert. As a doctor, he also supports recommendations from the German Cancer Society and calls for countries like France to follow suit: "There, smoking is prohibited in public places such as schools, swimming pools, and sports facilities – to protect children from secondhand smoke and to normalize smoking for health reasons."