This World No Tobacco Day (WNTD) on 31 May 2024, WHO and youth advocates around the world are highlighting the harmful influences of the tobacco industry on youth. With the theme “Protecting children from tobacco industry interference”, young people are urging governments to protect them and future generations from being targets of the tobacco and nicotine industry.
The tobacco industry specifically targets youth to create a new generation of tobacco addicts to replace the millions of customers each year who die or quit using tobacco. It intentionally designs products and uses marketing strategies that appeal directly to children in an attempt to addict them to these harmful products.
Children are using e-cigarettes at rates higher than adults in all regions, and global estimates are that 37 million youth aged 13-15 years use tobacco. E-cigarettes heat a liquid to create aerosols that are inhaled by the user. They may contain nicotine which is highly addictive and harmful to health, and typically contain additives, flavours and chemicals that can be harmful to both users and non-users exposed to the aerosols second-hand.
The tobacco industry uses e-cigarettes to target children through social media and influencers, with at least 16 000 flavours including bubblegum and cotton candy. Some of these products use cartoon characters and resemble toys and games. In the United States of America, research has found that over 70% of youth using e-cigarettes would quit if the products were only available in tobacco flavour.
This WNTD 2024, WHO is urging governments to protect young people and future generations from using tobacco, e-cigarettes and other nicotine products by banning or tightly regulating these products. WHO recommends creating 100% smoke-free indoor public places, banning flavoured e-cigarettes, banning marketing, advertising and promotion, raising taxes, and supporting youth-led education and awareness campaigns.
We call on policymakers to act to prevent current and future generations from the harms of addiction to and use of tobacco and nicotine products. By working together, governments, public health organizations, civil society and empowered youth can create a world where the next generation is free from the dangers of tobacco and nicotine addiction.
The WHO Centre for Health Development in Kobe, Japan is a global research centre of excellence focusing on health systems responses to accelerate Universal Health Coverage in the context of population ageing, and health emergencies and disaster risk management.