"You have countries with different levels of tobacco control and this is not the best example in Europe, no way."

In turn, this laid the foundation for the main focus of his career, tobacco control.

The issue of tobacco control will have a prominent place on the agenda over the next year as well.

The project represents the first significant transfer of public funds for tobacco control to individual states.

Some of the topics on which they provide assistance include food safety, health care reform, and tobacco control.

"In terms of tobacco control, we're not done," he said.

As a campaign issue, tobacco control traditionally has carried little weight with voters.

Not long ago, for instance, I asked a tobacco control advocate what his ultimate goal was.

The results of the new study are published online in Tobacco Control.

"If they turn it into a zero-sum game, tobacco control will lose out."