The 10th edition of the Global Tobacco Epidemic Report has been published by WHO

Main Insights of the Report

Global Reach: Since 2007, 155 nations have adopted a minimum of one MPOWER policy measure, collectively aiding more than 6.1 billion individuals.

Largest Advancement: Of all MPOWER strategies, prominent graphic health warnings on cigarette packets have experienced the broadest and most uniform application.

India’s Position in Digital Content Regulation: India has distinctly emerged as the first nation worldwide to implement tobacco control regulations aimed specifically at digital streaming content.

India’s Firm Position on TAPS: India has enforced strict actions to limit tobacco advertising, promotion, and sponsorship (TAPS) in every type of media. This corresponds to the "E" (Enforce bans) in MPOWER and is an essential measure in diminishing tobacco attractiveness.

Tobacco Tax: A key observation is that tobacco tax is still the least implemented MPOWER strategy worldwide. This poses a major issue since raising tobacco taxes is commonly acknowledged as one of the best methods to decrease usage, particularly among young people and lower-income populations.

Use of Tobacco

Tobacco consumption results in more than seven million deaths annually, mainly in low- and middle-income nations.

India ranks as the second-largest producer of tobacco globally, following China.

India ranks as the 4th largest producer of Flue Cured Virginia (FCV) tobacco globally, following China, Brazil, and Zimbabwe.

The use of tobacco is a significant contributor to non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in India, including cancer, heart disease, and respiratory issues, resulting in more than 1.35 million deaths annually.

Over the past twenty years, notable advancements have been achieved in lowering tobacco usage in nations facing the heaviest burden of tobacco consumption.

Essential strategies encompass the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) and the six validated World Health Organization (WHO) MPOWER tobacco control interventions aimed at decreasing tobacco consumption:

Tracking tobacco consumption and prevention strategies;

Safeguarding individuals from tobacco smoke through smoke-free air laws;

providing assistance in quitting tobacco use;

Increasing tobacco taxes; enforcing prohibitions on tobacco sponsorship, promotion, and advertising; and warning about the risks of tobacco through mass media and pack labels.