In an urgent plea, the World Health Organization (WHO) voiced deep concerns over the growing threat posed by the proliferation of e-cigarettes and other novel tobacco and nicotine products among young people. Advocating for robust government intervention, WHO urged stringent regulations or outright bans on these products to safeguard the youth from falling prey to their allure.
Proposing a comprehensive strategy, the global health watchdog emphasized the imperative of establishing 100% smoke-free indoor public spaces, prohibiting flavored e-cigarettes, curtailing all forms of marketing and advertising, imposing higher taxes, enhancing public awareness about the industry’s deceptive tactics, and supporting youth-driven education initiatives.
In collaboration with STOP, a global tobacco industry watchdog, WHO released a damning report titled “Hooking the Next Generation,” shedding light on the insidious strategies employed by the tobacco and nicotine industry to addict young minds, manipulate policy environments, and perpetuate dependency.
“The deceptive tactics employed by the industry underscore the critical necessity of stringent regulations to shield our youth from the shackles of lifelong addiction,” remarked WHO.
The report’s release, ahead of World No Tobacco Day on May 31, underscored alarming statistics, revealing that approximately 37 million adolescents aged 13–15 worldwide are tobacco users, with e-cigarette usage rates surpassing that of adults in many countries. Notably, in the WHO European Region, one-fifth of 15-year-olds reported recent e-cigarette use.
Studies have unequivocally demonstrated that e-cigarette use substantially escalates conventional cigarette consumption, particularly among non-smoking youths, nearly tripling the likelihood of uptake.
Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, decried the industry’s predatory tactics, condemning the cynical marketing of candy-flavored products to children. He lamented the audacity of these industries to cloak their harmful, highly addictive wares in enticing packaging, betraying any notion of harm reduction.
The pervasive marketing strategies employed by these industries, including the proliferation of flavored products and aggressive digital advertising targeted at impressionable youth, have exacerbated the epidemic. Alarmingly, research has shown a direct correlation between social media exposure and increased e-cigarette usage among adolescents.
Furthermore, sports sponsorships, notably in events like Formula 1, serve as potent vehicles for brand promotion and youth engagement, exploiting the global fan base to perpetuate the industry’s agenda.
Employing a veneer of corporate social responsibility, tobacco conglomerates attempt to whitewash their tarnished reputations by sponsoring educational initiatives and infrastructure projects, all while continuing to ensnare the young in their web of addiction.