World No Tobacco Day: WHO Urges Global Ban on Flavoured Tobacco and Nicotine Products

The World Health Organisation (WHO) urged governments for an immediate ban on all flavours in tobacco and nicotine products a day before World No Tobacco Day. This call for ban includes cigarettes, pouches, hookahs and e-cigarettes, to protect youth from addiction and disease. May 31st is recognised global as World No Tobacco Day and this decision from the WHO comes at a precise time to raise awareness regarding tobacco consumption and substance abuse.

According to the report published by WHO, flavours like menthol, bubble gum and cotton candy are masking the harshness of tobacco and nicotine products turning toxic products into youth-friendly bait. Flavours not only make it harder to quit but have also been linked to serious lung diseases. Cigarettes, which still kill up to half of their users, also come in flavours or can have flavours added to them.

Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of WHO said, “Flavours are fueling a new wave of addiction, and should be banned. They undermine decades of progress in tobacco control. Without bold action, the global tobacco epidemic, already killing around 8 million people each year, will continue to be driven by addiction dressed up with appealing flavours.”

The publication, Flavour accessories in tobacco products enhance attractiveness and appeal, reveals how flavours and accessories like capsule filters and click-on drops are marketed to bypass regulations and hook new users.

Currently:

• over 50 countries ban flavoured tobacco;
• more than 40 countries ban e-cigarette sales; 5 specifically ban disposables and 7 ban e-cigarette flavours; and
• flavour accessories remain largely unregulated.