Young Europeans still drawn to tobacco WHO report

"It's the result of a deliberate industry strategy targeting young people with flavored products and sophisticated social media marketing. But countries like Belgium, Denmark and the Netherlands were proving it is possible to push back, by regulating novel products, banning flavors and restricting advertising."

"People living across Europe, Russia and Central Asia together account for the highest number of tobacco users globally and it's unlikely to change before 2030, according to the World Health Organization. This follows a 2025 report that the group of nations collectively known as the WHO European Region now lead the world for per capita tobacco use."

"Among children in the WHO European Region aged 13-15: Four million use tobacco products, one in seven use e-cigarettes—the highest rate of any region—and girls use tobacco more than their counterparts in the other five WHO regions."

The WHO European Region leads the world in per capita tobacco use and is unlikely to meet end-of-decade consumption reduction targets. Tobacco use extends beyond cigarettes to include e-cigarettes, chewing tobacco, and nicotine pouches. Among children aged 13-15 in the region, four million use tobacco products, with one in seven using e-cigarettes—the highest rate globally. Girls in the region use tobacco more than counterparts elsewhere. The tobacco industry deliberately targets young people with flavored products and sophisticated social media marketing. Countries like Belgium, Denmark, and the Netherlands demonstrate that regulation, flavor bans, and advertising restrictions can reduce tobacco use. Female smokers comprise two-in-five of the world's female smoking population in this region. Weak regulatory frameworks across the region enable tobacco products to proliferate among youth populations.

Read at www.dw.com