Over half a million people in the EU still die every year as a result of tobacco use.

Omissions

• The actual EU figure is even higher than the claim implies: the European Commission states tobacco is responsible for 'nearly 700,000 deaths every year' in the EU, not merely 'over half a million'. The claim is a conservative lower bound and understates the true magnitude by roughly 200,000 deaths per year.

Sources

• PrimaryEuropean Commission - Public Health, Tobacco OverviewTobacco consumption is the single largest avoidable health risk, and the most significant cause of premature death in the EU, responsible for nearly 700,000 deaths every year. Around 50% of smokers die prematurely (on average 14 years earlier).
• PrimaryEU Publications Office - Attitudes of Europeans towards tobacco and electronic cigarettesTobacco consumption remains the largest avoidable health risk in the European Union, and is responsible for 700,000 deaths each year.
• SecondaryEuropean Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) - Tobacco PolicyIn Europe, tobacco is responsible for approximately 700,000 deaths annually, and smoking prevalence among the EU population aged 15 and above was estimated...