Overview

• World No Tobacco Day on May 31 highlights how tobacco companies use aspirational imagery, influencer partnerships and deceptive claims to appeal to young people.
• Rutgers research shows tactics like “tobacco and water” labeling and social media glamorization foster misconceptions of purity and reduced harm.
• Exposure to eye-catching tobacco content on platforms such as TikTok and Instagram is linked to more favorable attitudes and increased interest among youth.
• The Union Health Ministry has ordered special state drives to enforce anti-smoking laws and roll out guidelines for tobacco-free educational institutions.
• WHO reports that tobacco use kills over 8 million people annually and that there are roughly 1.1 billion smokers worldwide.