Tobacco industry’s sly promotion tactics must be countered with force

M A Hossain, 

Each year on May 31, the world observes World No Tobacco Day, a vital occasion to confront one of the most preventable global health threats. Launched by the World Health Organization in 1988, the initiative mobilized action against the tobacco industry’s deadly influence.

Appropriately, this year’s campaign will focus on the industry’s promotion of nicotine products. It puts the spotlight squarely on how tobacco companies continue to lure young consumers and entrench addiction under the guise of modernity and choice.

Tobacco remains a global killer, claiming over 8 million lives annually and causing untold suffering through diseases such as cancer, heart disease and chronic respiratory conditions. The toll is not limited to smokers – second-hand smoke endangers millions more.

Over the years, countries have embraced the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, banning public smoking, mandating warning labels and restricting advertising. However, weak enforcement and legal loopholes persist.

Just as importantly, the tobacco industry has not been dormant. While traditional advertising is restricted in many nations, companies have adapted with stealth. They exploit social media, influencer culture and digital marketing to cast smoking and vaping as symbols of independence, rebellion and style. These tactics specifically target youth through flavours, gadget-like devices and aspirational branding, seeding addiction early and deepening long-term dependency.

E-cigarettes and flavoured vapes, often sold as “harm reduction” tools, only muddy the waters. With bright packaging and sweetened flavours, they appeal directly to teenagers and young adults (“70% of Hongkongers under 25 have tried e-cigarettes: university poll”, May 23).

Beyond health, the damage extends to the environment and society. Tobacco cultivation depletes soil, consumes vast water resources and contributes to deforestation. Pesticide-heavy farming pollutes ecosystems, while discarded cigarette filters litter cities and beaches.

Protecting future generations demands urgent, coordinated action. Governments must impose significant taxes on all tobacco and nicotine products. Equally crucial is education. Schools, communities, and families must equip young people with the tools to resist tobacco’s false glamour. Religious figures, celebrities and civic leaders can reshape norms by framing tobacco use as a moral, economic and environmental issue.

The fight against tobacco is a fight for life and sustainability. Unmasking the industry’s tactics and confronting its influence is not only possible – it is essential.

M.A. Hossain, Dhaka, Bangladesh

This article published at :

1. South China Morning Post, HK : 31 May, 25