WHO Calls For Urgent Action To Ban Flavoured Tobacco And Nicotine Products To Protect Youth

On World No Tobacco Day, the World Health Organisation (WHO) urged governments to ban flavours in tobacco and nicotine products. This includes cigarettes, pouches, hookahs, and e-cigarettes. The aim is to protect young people from addiction and health issues. Flavours like menthol and bubble gum disguise the harshness of these products, making them more appealing to youth.

Flavoured tobacco products are a significant factor in why young individuals start using nicotine. These flavours, combined with eye-catching packaging and marketing on social media, have made nicotine pouches, heated tobacco, and disposable vapes more attractive. This trend has led to increased addiction among young people.

The WHO publication titled "Flavour accessories in tobacco products enhance attractiveness and appeal" highlights how flavours and accessories like capsule filters are used to attract new users. These tactics often bypass regulations designed to control tobacco use. The report stresses the need for stricter measures to prevent these marketing strategies.

Currently, over 50 countries have banned flavoured tobacco products. Additionally, more than 40 countries prohibit e-cigarette sales, with five specifically banning disposables and seven banning e-cigarette flavours. Despite these efforts, flavour accessories remain mostly unregulated globally.

Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of WHO, stated: "Flavours are fuelling a new wave of addiction, and should be banned." He emphasised that they undermine years of progress in controlling tobacco use. Without decisive action, the global tobacco epidemic will continue to claim around 8 million lives annually due to addiction masked by enticing flavours.

The WHO warns that all tobacco products expose users to cancer-causing chemicals. This includes heated tobacco products which should be strictly regulated to reduce health risks. The organisation continues to advocate for comprehensive regulation of these harmful substances.

Flavours not only make quitting harder but also contribute to severe lung diseases. Cigarettes can come pre-flavoured or have flavours added later. These additives increase the risk of addiction and health complications among users.

The call for action by WHO aims at reducing the appeal of toxic products disguised as youth-friendly options through flavours like cotton candy. By implementing bans on such additives, governments can help curb the rising tide of nicotine addiction among young people worldwide.

With inputs from WAM