Smoking is the leading preventable cause of death. Approximately 40% of Europeans now smoke. Many smokers want to stop but do not make the attempt, and of those who try, most are unsuccessful. Primary care health providers can help their patients to stop by using brief behavioural and pharmacological interventions. Specialised smoking cessation clinics can support selected patients referred by primary care providers. This report reviews intervention techniques for health care providers, which, in combination with effective legislative and educational interventions, can significantly reduce the prevalence of smoking.