European girls aged 13-15 have world's highest rate of tobacco use for age group

"European girls aged 13 to 15 now have the highest tobacco use rates among their age group anywhere in the world. That is not an accident, it's the result of deliberate industry strategy targeting young people with flavoured products and sophisticated social media marketing."

"We have a responsibility to change course now: to shield young people from nicotine addiction, prevent industry interference in health policy, and enforce the regulations that will prevent a lifetime of avoidable harm."

"Europe is on course to maintain its status as the world's biggest consumer of tobacco up to 2030, and reveals particularly concerning trends of tobacco use among women and young people. Four in 10 adult female smokers around the world about 62 million women live in Europe."

Europe maintains the world's highest tobacco consumption rates, with particularly alarming trends among women and young people. Four in ten adult female smokers globally live in Europe, while 4 million teenagers aged 13-15 use tobacco products. European adolescents aged 13-15 show the highest e-cigarette prevalence at 14.3%, with girls having the world's highest tobacco use rates in their age group. Tobacco causes approximately 1.1 million deaths annually across Europe. WHO officials attribute high youth e-cigarette use to deliberate industry strategies targeting 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 effectively reduce consumption.

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