The article describes and analyzes the policy planning and political decision-making processes in smoking control in Finland, with special reference to legislation introduced in the mid-'seventies. The analytical framework behind the strategy is presented in the form of goal-means analysis. Four sets of measures are discussed: health education, restrictions both on marketing and on smoking, price policy and supporting research and development. Both in the policy formulation and in the implementation phase conflicts of commercial and health interests have been strongest on three issues: the ban on advertisement and sales promotion, the setting of upper limits for harmful substances in tobacco products, and proposals for an efprice policy. In the political process Parliament has been much more sensitive to the public health interest and to public opinion than to the lobbying power of the tobacco industry and trade, which has been more clearly visible in many Government decisions. Evaluation of smoking patterns indicates that there has been an historic reversal of trends in total consumption, but distributional data show a widening social gradient in smoking. Two developments are needed for further improvement: a price policy that would support health policy and not contradict it, and better understanding of the socio-cultural dynamics of smoking which would be required for new innovative approaches in health education.