Young people are the tobacco industry’s ideal target
The tobacco industry was the main driver of the current tobacco epidemic that kills more than 8 million people every year. It is not in the industry’s financial interests to end the tobacco epidemic.
Young people are the tobacco industry’s ideal target; if the industry doesn’t hook a new generation of users on its products, it will eventually go out of business after its current customers quit or die. For the industry, younger is better for tobacco industry profits. Most lifetime tobacco users start before the age of 21 and while the industry targets young people worldwide, it especially focuses on those in low- and middle-income countries.
Despite the well-known health harms of tobacco use, the tobacco industry’s main focus is still on selling cigarettes—including to young people. Some major tobacco companies, like British American Tobacco (BAT) and Philip Morris International (PMI), claim they want to move away from cigarettes, but selling as many cigarettes as possible is still their main business. Targeting young people with cigarette packaging, ads and promotion still happens today.
New nicotine products are the latest threat to youth addiction; the industry is creating a new epidemic: addiction to its electronic and other new products. Electronic products being marketed to young users include e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products (HTPs). Nicotine pouches are another product being targeted at young people. All these products are addictive and their long-term health effects are still unknown. Learn more, see https://exposetobacco.org/campaigns/modern-addiction/