Stop tobacco industry tactics targeting young people, say international lung health expert

On World No Tobacco Day (31 May, 2025) the Forum of International Respiratory Societies (FIRS), supports the World Health Organization’s (WHO) efforts to expose and condemn the tobacco industry’s harmful tactics—many of which are aimed at young people.

This year’s World No Tobacco Day (WNTD) – themed ‘Unmasking the appeal: Exposing industry tactics on tobacco and nicotine products’ – aims to reveal the strategies employed by the tobacco and nicotine industries to make their harmful products enticing.

FIRS, founded by leading international respiratory societies and representing over 100,000 respiratory health professionals, joins the WHO in raising awareness, advocating for stronger policies—including a ban on flavours that make tobacco and nicotine products more appealing—and protecting public health.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 88 countries have no minimum age for purchasing e-cigarettes, and 74 countries lack any form of regulation for these products. According to the most recent WHO data, only four countries ban all flavours in e-cigarettes, while another four allow or restrict specific flavours. Just 11 countries prohibit all forms of advertising, promotion, and sponsorship of e-cigarettes, compared to 36 with partial bans, and six with no regulations. These gaps leave young people particularly vulnerable to targeted e-cigarette marketing.