The World Health Organization (WHO) has called on governments worldwide to treat e-cigarettes in a manner similar to tobacco, advocating for a complete ban on all flavors. This stance poses a direct challenge to cigarette companies heavily investing in smoking alternatives, particularly those centered around e-cigarettes.
Despite the perception of e-cigarettes as a potential tool for reducing smoking-related deaths and diseases, the UN health agency emphasized the necessity for “urgent measures” to control their use. The WHO cited studies indicating insufficient evidence that e-cigarettes aid in smoking cessation, while highlighting the potential harm to health and the risk of nicotine addiction, particularly among non-smokers, including children and young individuals.
According to the WHO, aggressive marketing has led to a higher prevalence of e-cigarette use among 13-15 year-olds compared to adults in all WHO regions. Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus expressed concern about the recruitment of young individuals, stating that “kids are being recruited and trapped at an early age to use e-cigarettes and may get hooked to nicotine.”
The WHO’s proposed changes include bans on flavoring agents like menthol and the application of tobacco control measures to e-cigarettes, such as high taxes and restrictions on public use. While the WHO lacks direct authority over national regulations, its recommendations are often voluntarily adopted by countries.
This call for stricter regulations aligns with the efforts of anti-tobacco organizations, aiming to curb the rise of newer nicotine products. Such measures directly challenge major tobacco companies, including Philip Morris International and British American Tobacco, which are relying on these alternatives to offset declining smoking rates and cope with increasingly stringent rules.
The tobacco industry argues that e-cigarettes carry significantly lower health risks than traditional tobacco products and can aid harm reduction. Some flavor varieties and lower prices are considered essential in encouraging smokers to make the switch, a viewpoint shared by certain tobacco control advocates.
However, the WHO maintains that e-cigarettes generate substances, some known to cause cancer, posing risks to heart and lung health. Additionally, the organization highlights the potential harm to brain development in young people, emphasizing the need for global action to address these concerns.
