WHO demands ban on aroma tobacco: dangerous bait for young people!

WHO demands ban on aroma tobacco: dangerous bait for young people!

Vienna, Österreich - this day, May 31, 2025, the World Health Organization (WHO) underlines the need for a comprehensive ban on tobacco and nicotine products with aroma. Aromas such as gummy bears or cotton candy are viewed as targeted incentives for young people who can lead to serious lung diseases. These products are particularly seductive because they arouse the curiosity of children and adolescents and possibly lead to addiction.

such as [vienna.at] (https://www.vienna.at/weltnichrauchertag-Who-fuer-verbot-von-aroma-aroma-aroma-tobacco products/9443012), in 2022 already used 12.5 % of minors in the World CHO-European region e-cigarettes compared with only 2 % of adults. WHO boss Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warns that the use of flavors could fuel a new wave of addiction and undermine the progress in the containment of tobacco consumption. Every year, around 8 million people die from the consequences of tobacco consumption.

manipulative tactics of the tobacco industry

The WHO emphasizes on the occasion of the World Nut Rauma Day 2023 how the tobacco and nicotine industry market its products as a safe alternative to smoking. E-cigarettes are specifically advertised by sweet flavors and striking packaging in order to address young users. According to [Who] (https://www.who.int/europe/de/news-gature-stories/item/sweet-flavors-and-bright-colours-lure-youth-ins nicotine addiction), almost 20,000 e-liquids and 250 flavors are available on the market. Particularly cooling active ingredients such as menthol increase the addiction potential by facilitating inhaling.

The WHO therefore calls for more regulation of e-cigarettes, since all flavors are only prohibited in a few countries in the WHO region. In fact, there were only four countries in 2022 that have issued such bans. In the meantime, 36 countries have prescribed partial advertising bans for e-cigarettes.

global reactions to health threats

In more than 50 countries, flavored tobacco products have already been banned, and over 40 countries have pulled electronic cigarettes out of circulation. These measures are necessary to change the usage behavior among young people sustainably. E-cigarettes are often associated with health risks even in their marketed form, which can differ from the use of conventional tobacco products.

The WHO has also emphasized that all tobacco products, including heated variants, expose users to poisonous and carcinogenic chemicals. Therefore, these products should be regulated more strictly to protect the health of the population.

The cooperation between governments and health organizations is of crucial importance for the restoration of public awareness and to prevent nicotine dependency. This is particularly relevant in the context of the recent political developments and the ongoing debates about the tobacco and drug regulation system, as shown in the data portal and drugs of the Federal Drugs Officer.