ABSTRACT
This chapter provides an overview of the current state of public policy regarding the comprehensive control of tobacco, both in the USA and internationally. It presents an index that measures the comprehensiveness of tobacco control polices for each country. The chapter describes the extent to which governments around the globe have adopted comprehensive polices to deter tobacco consumption. It also focuses on non-price policies since pricing strategies are used to one degree or another by all governments to combat tobacco use. The landmark Master Settlement Agreement between 46 states and US tobacco companies in 1998 was a comprehensive deal between industry and government to combat tobacco use and to internalize the social costs of smoking. The individual state programs have varied in terms of specific goals and outcomes and they have formed the basis for recommendations at the national level as to what constitutes best practices for the comprehensive tobacco control policy.
