In the face of a global health crisis, the tobacco and nicotine industry continue to employ manipulative tactics to hook the next generation on their harmful products⁴.
Industry Tactics: Hooking the Youth
The World Health Organization (WHO) and STOP, a global tobacco industry watchdog, recently unveiled a report titled “Hooking the Next Generation,” revealing the strategies employed by the tobacco and nicotine industry to lure young people. These tactics include appealing product designs, aggressive marketing, and the use of digital platforms.
Misleading Messages: A Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing
The industry uses misleading messages to influence public opinion and appeal to youth, portraying themselves as sustainable and harm-reducing. They are intentionally designing products and utilizing marketing strategies that appeal directly to children. The use of child-friendly flavors like cotton candy and bubblegum, combined with sleek and colorful designs that resemble toys, is a blatant attempt to addict young people to these harmful products.
Policy Influence: Undermining Public Health
The industry attempts to influence policies that protect youth, using strategies like litigation and creating front groups. They oppose evidence-based measures, such as increases in excise taxes and comprehensive bans on tobacco advertising, promotion, and sponsorship, and have threatened legal actions against governments that try to protect the health of their citizens.
Global Impact: A Growing Epidemic
Globally, an estimated 37 million children aged 13 to 15 years use tobacco. In many countries, the rate of e-cigarette use among adolescents exceeds that of adults. Studies demonstrate that e-cigarette use increases conventional cigarette use, particularly among non-smoking youth, by nearly three times.
A Call to Action
These deceptive tactics highlight the urgent need for strong regulations to protect young people from a lifetime of harmful dependence. WHO urges governments to protect young people from the uptake of tobacco, e-cigarettes, and other nicotine products by banning or tightly regulating these products.
As a society, we must stand together to safeguard the health and well-being of our young people. Let’s unite against the deceptive tactics of the tobacco and nicotine industry and strive for a healthier future for our global community.
Sources:
(1) Tobacco and nicotine industry tactics addict youth for life. https://www.who.int/news/item/23-05-2024-tobacco-and-nicotine-industry-tactics-addict-youth-for-life.
(2) Tobacco and Nicotine Industry’s Strategies Hook Youth for Life. https://www.devdiscourse.com/article/health/2949221-tobacco-and-nicotine-industrys-strategies-hook-youth-for-life.
(3) Tobacco and nicotine industry tactics addict youth for life. https://www.who.int/news/item/23-05-2024-tobacco-and-nicotine-industry-tactics-addict-youth-for-life.
(4) Tobacco and Nicotine Industry’s Strategies Hook Youth for Life. https://www.devdiscourse.com/article/health/2949221-tobacco-and-nicotine-industrys-strategies-hook-youth-for-life.
(5) Tobacco and nicotine industry ‘hooking the next generation,’ WHO report says. https://www.cbc.ca/news/health/smoking-vaping-who-1.7212339.
(6) Tobacco industry ‘aggressively’ targeting youth with ‘manipulative’ tactics: WHO. https://www.msn.com/en-ca/news/other/tobacco-industry-aggressively-targeting-youth-with-manipulative-tactics-who/ar-BB1mVIuq.
(7) Tobacco: Industry tactics to attract younger generations. https://www.who.int/news-room/questions-and-answers/item/tobacco-industry-tactics-to-attract-younger-generations.
(8) Tobacco industry ‘aggressively’ targeting youth with ‘manipulative …. https://bing.com/search?q=tobacco+and+nicotine+industry+tactics.
(9) undefined. https://exposetobacco.org/wp-content/uploads/STOP_Report_Addiction-At-Any-Cost.pdf%29.
(10) undefined. https://www.tobaccofreekids.org/assets/content/press_office/2018/2018_08_ftc_petition.pdf%29.
