Report was jointly released by World Health Organization (WHO) and STOP, a global tobacco industry watchdog to mark World No Tobacco Day (WNTD) on 31st May.
- WNTB Theme for 2024: Protecting children from tobacco industry interference.
Key findings
- Globally, an estimated 37 million children aged 13–15 years use tobacco.
- 85% of 15–30-year olds were exposed to electronic-cigarette advertising across multiple media platforms.
- Electronic-cigarettes are battery-operated devices that produce aerosol by heating a solution containing nicotine, which is addictive substance in combustible cigarettes.
Why Tobacco Industry is targeting youth?
- To find replacement consumers and generate a lifetime of profits.
- Lack of understanding regarding repercussions of smoking and peer influence gets them easily addicted to tobacco consumption.
Tactics used by Tobacco Industry to target youth
- Releasing new products like e-cigarettes, heated tobacco products, nicotine pouches etc.
- Lowering prices of disposable e-cigarettes, engaging in “buy one, get one free” promotions.
- Marketing in digital spaces, including gaming platforms etc.
Impact of Tobacco Consumption
- Kills more than 8 million people each year due to risk of heart disease, lung disorders, cancer etc.
- As per WHO, smoking costs world's economies more than US$ 1 trillion annually in healthcare expenditure and lost productivity.
Initiatives taken to control Tobacco Consumption
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