Hoffman SJ, et al. - Through a systematic collection of comparable national cigarette consumption data from 71 countries, researchers collected, appraised, selected, and reported the best available national estimates of cigarette consumption since 1970. Although cigarette consumption reduced in most countries over the past three decades, highly changeable trends in country-specific consumption were noted. The investigators noted that their findings highlight the need for more vigorous processes in data reporting, built into international legal instruments or other mandated process. They further suggested that data on national tobacco production, trade, and sales should be routinely collected and openly reported in order to monitor the effect of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control and other tobacco control interventions.