M A Hossain,
Every year on May 31, nations around the globe come together to observe World No Tobacco Day, a vital occasion that transcends symbolic advocacy. Established by the World Health Organization in 1988, this annual initiative represents a powerful call to action—urging governments, civil society, and individuals to confront the deadly grip of tobacco addiction. The theme for 2025, “Unmasking the Appeal: Exposing Industry Tactics on Tobacco and Nicotine Products,” highlights the insidious strategies employed by the tobacco industry to lure young consumers and perpetuate dependence across generations.
Tobacco remains one of the world’s deadliest preventable killers, claiming more than 8 million lives each year. Millions more suffer from the devastating health consequences of smoking and exposure to secondhand smoke in homes, public spaces, and workplaces. These are not abstract statistics; they represent real people—parents, siblings, children—whose lives are irreversibly damaged or prematurely ended by tobacco-related diseases.
From lung cancer and cardiovascular disease to chronic respiratory illnesses, the burden on healthcare systems is immense. Public health services, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, struggle to accommodate the growing number of patients suffering from tobacco-induced conditions. Beyond the human cost, the financial burden is staggering. Treatment expenses and productivity losses far outweigh the tax revenues earned from tobacco sales, dispelling the myth that tobacco is an economic benefit.
Manipulation and Deception
At the heart of the problem lies an industry that prioritizes profits over human well-being. Despite bans on traditional advertising in many countries, tobacco companies have mastered the art of subversion. They influence lawmakers through powerful lobbying, exploit legal grey areas, and target populations least equipped to resist their messaging.
Young people are particularly vulnerable. Social media platforms and digital influencers have become powerful tools for covert marketing. With sleek branding, lifestyle messaging, and viral campaigns, the tobacco industry romanticizes vaping and smoking as symbols of freedom and rebellion. These are not spontaneous cultural trends—they are the result of deliberate manipulation.
Newer products like e-cigarettes and flavored vapes, often promoted as “safer” alternatives, have only added to the crisis. Their colorful packaging, fruity flavors, and gadget-like designs are clearly aimed at teenagers. The absence of uniform global regulation has allowed these products to flood markets, threatening to reverse years of progress in tobacco control.
Environmental and Social Fallout
The harm wrought by tobacco extends beyond the human body. Its environmental footprint is immense—from deforestation and soil degradation to water overuse and toxic waste. Tobacco cultivation demands enormous agricultural inputs, including pesticides and fertilizers, which pollute ecosystems and undermine sustainable farming.
The social consequences are equally grim. The tobacco economy deepens inequality by disproportionately targeting the poor. In many regions, families struggling with poverty find themselves trapped in cycles of illness and lost income due to tobacco use. Children growing up in smoking households are more likely to suffer from respiratory diseases and to pick up the habit themselves, perpetuating a multigenerational health crisis.
When Legislation Falls Short
Over the past two decades, many countries have adopted the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, implementing smoking bans, packaging restrictions, and public awareness campaigns. These efforts have saved lives—but they are not enough.
Enforcement remains a major weakness. Loopholes in legislation, inadequate monitoring, and inconsistent penalties allow the industry to persist with impunity. Emerging nicotine products often fall outside the scope of existing laws, giving the industry an opportunity to adapt faster than governments can respond.
The Medical Reality
Tobacco’s health impact is both immediate and long-term. It damages nearly every organ, leading to cancers, strokes, and chronic lung diseases. Even non-smokers are not spared—secondhand smoke increases the risk of asthma, heart disease, and other life-threatening conditions.
Perhaps most tragically, the harm begins before birth. Pregnant women exposed to tobacco are more likely to suffer miscarriages, deliver underweight babies, or experience complications. Children raised in smoking households face elevated risks of respiratory infections and are more likely to become smokers themselves. This is not just a public health issue—it is a generational inheritance of suffering.
Charting a Way Forward
Eradicating tobacco-related harm requires a coordinated and strategic response. First and foremost, governments must impose steep taxes on all tobacco and nicotine products, including low-cost alternatives. Public health experts recommend increasing prices by at least a third to reduce consumption and fund prevention efforts.
Educational interventions are equally critical. Schools must embed tobacco awareness programs into their curricula, equipping students with the knowledge and confidence to resist peer pressure. Religious leaders, celebrities, and community influencers can amplify anti-tobacco messaging by framing it within broader values of health, dignity, and social responsibility.
Local-level actions also matter. Banning sales near schools, licensing tobacco retailers, and deploying mobile enforcement units in urban and rural areas can make a tangible difference. At the grassroots level, civil society organizations play a vital role in monitoring compliance, raising awareness, and holding authorities accountable.
A Moral and Global Imperative
Tobacco is not merely a health hazard—it is a global injustice. It poisons the air we breathe, preys on the vulnerable, depletes natural resources, and sustains poverty. The solution lies in political will, public awareness, and societal resolve.
As World No Tobacco Day 2025 reminds us, the time to act is now. We must unmask the industry's deceptive tactics and rally together—governments, communities, and individuals—to dismantle the structures that allow addiction to thrive. By confronting tobacco head-on, we are not only protecting public health but also advancing environmental sustainability, economic justice, and intergenerational equity.
This article published at :
1. Good Morning Kashmir, India, 31 May, 25
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