NEW DELHI: As the world observes World No Tobacco Day on May 31, 2025, the focus this year is sharply on “Bright products. Dark intentions. Unmasking the Appeal.” This theme, spearheaded by the World Health Organization (WHO), aims to expose the insidious tactics employed by the tobacco and nicotine industries to hook new generations, particularly young people, with seemingly attractive products.
Tobacco use remains one of the most significant public health threats globally, claiming over 8 million lives each year. In India, the burden is particularly heavy, with an estimated 1.35 million deaths annually attributed to tobacco-related diseases. The country faces a dual challenge with both smoking and smokeless tobacco forms prevalent, impacting nearly 267 million adults.
The 2025 campaign highlights how tobacco companies manipulate product design, use appealing flavors like menthol, bubblegum, and cotton candy, and leverage extensive social media marketing to make highly addictive products seem harmless and even desirable. These tactics are designed to mask the harshness of nicotine and tobacco, making initiation easier and quitting significantly harder. Reports indicate that an estimated 37 million children aged 13-15 years worldwide currently use tobacco, with e-cigarette use among youth often exceeding that of adults.
India has made considerable strides in tobacco control through policies like the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA), which includes bans on public smoking, restrictions on sales to minors, and prominent pictorial health warnings on packaging. The National Tobacco Control Programme (NTCP) has also been instrumental in raising awareness and implementing cessation services. However, challenges persist, particularly with the influx of illicit tobacco products and the evolving landscape of digital marketing.
On this World No Tobacco Day, health organizations and governments are reiterating calls for stronger regulations, including outright bans on flavored tobacco and nicotine products, stricter controls on product design, and comprehensive bans on advertising, promotion, and sponsorship. The message is clear: protecting future generations from the grip of nicotine addiction requires collective and decisive action to dismantle the deceptive strategies of the tobacco industry.
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