europe central asia knowledge brief vol for example there is ample scope for improving diet to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and cancer in this context the finnish experience in north karelia indicates the sizeable potential benefits that can be achieved from changing diet and other risk factors as regards substance abuse taxes on tobacco and alcohol have been increasing but on the basis of available international data remain below european standards figure there is evidence that low prices of these products encourage higher consumption of tobacco and spirits treisman limiting the influence of producer lobbies would help increase policy coherence and lower substance abuse over the longer haul traffic deaths could also be reduced through simple measures to reduce vehicle speed via radars increased fines from traffic violations and simple speed bumps may be costeffective policies