( MENAFN - AzerNews) The World health Organization (WHO) estimates that 37 millionadolescents between the ages of 13 and 15 use tobacco, and that inmany countries the rate of e-cigarette use among teenagers exceedsthat of adults, according to the official website of the UNRIC, Azernews reports. In the WHO European Region, 20% of 15-year-olds surveyed saidthey had used e-cigarettes in the past 30 days. This shows that thetobacco industry has no qualms about targeting the youngergeneration.
Deceptive strategies targeting the very young In its new products, the tobacco industry promotes sweet,innocuous-looking flavors reminiscent of childhood, such as candy,fruit or chocolate, rather than the“tobacco” taste that doesn'tappeal to the youngest generation. In fact, over 70% of younge-cigarette users in the United States said they would stop smokingaltogether if the only flavor available was“tobacco”. The e-cigarette is just as dangerous and addictive as thetraditional cigarette, but it is designed and presented as a toy,and at a low price.
'These industries are intentionally designing products andutilizing marketing strategies that appeal directly to children'says Dr Ruediger Krech, Director of the WHO's Department of HealthPromotion. 'The use of child-friendly flavours like cotton candy andbubblegum, combined with sleek and colourful designs that resembletoys, is a blatant attempt to addict young people to these harmfulproducts,' he adds. Greenwashing by the industry Big t.
