WHO released "Hooking the Next Generation: How the Tobacco industry captures young customers” Report | Current Affairs | Vision IAS
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    WHO released "Hooking the Next Generation: How the Tobacco industry captures young customers” Report

    Posted 31 May 2024

    2 min read

    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

    • India: National Tobacco Control Programme, Cigarette and Other Tobacco Products Act 2003, Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes Act, 2019 etc.
    • GlobalWHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, 2003 (India ratified it in 2004), WHO’s MPOWER measures (refer image) etc.
    • Tags :
    • e-Cigarette
    • World No Tobacco Day
    • Tobacco Consumption
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