How the cynical targeting of children and adolescents by tobacco companies works, using the example of nicotine snus
Tobacco companies understand perfectly: it is difficult to force a 30-year-old adult to start smoking. Therefore, their main target is teenagers aged 13–15. To reach children, the industry has an «ideal» product — nicotine snus. The industry has done everything possible so that they are associated with favorite flavors, style, entertainment, and a sense of «adulthood».
The World Health Organization (WHO) and Stanford University in a new study revealed how tobacco giants «hook» the younger generation on snus. Here are the most cynical tactics:
Bright packaging
Some pouch brands do not just create attractive designs; they copy the appearance of popular candies. As a result: 72% of pouch poisoning cases in the US among children under 5 years old involve those who mistook them for sweets.
Flavors from a candy store and... a bar menu
«Cold watermelon», «Gummy bears», «Cherry punch» — hundreds of options. Manufacturers play on the teenage desire to appear more mature by offering alcoholic drink flavors.
Influencer marketing without the «advertisement» label
Dozens of million-follower bloggers promoted nicotine snus, often without advertising labels. Under the posts are popular youth hashtags or even sports ones like #skiing, #activeleisure. «Invisible» consumption Snus is actively positioned as a product that “no one will see, no one will smell” — it can be used anywhere — in a movie theater, on a plane, at work, and even at school. Nicotine pouches were developed to bypass smoking bans and remain unnoticed by parents and teachers. Formula 1, festivals, and free sample distribution Sponsorship of races, music festivals, and concerts — all of this shapes a false perception among teenagers of snus as a «cool accessory», inseparable from an eactive lifestyle. Tobacco brand promoters even distributed snus for free and encouraged trying the “new product”. Does this sound familiar? In Ukraine, 3% of children aged 13-15 already use nicotine snus. In our country, there are still no age restrictions on its sale, advertising bans, or labeling requirements. Bill No. 14110-d can change this: it prohibits the sale of nicotine snus to minors, limits the nicotine content per portion, and introduces the printing of medical warnings on 6<0xA0>65% of the packaging. Therefore, the Verkhovna Rada must pass it without delay. #TobaccoCompaniesHuntChildren
Our youth — is not a market for the tobacco industry. Snus has no place in children's pockets!
#NoSuchThingAsSafeNicotineProducts
#Bill14110-d