Robert Mwale & Leonce Sessou, Tobacco has shaped the economies of Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe for decades. Together, these countries sometimes referred to as “T5”, produced more than US$2.8 billion in tobacco export earnings in 2024, with Zimbabwe alone accounting for nearly half of this value. This could be seen as an economic […]
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Finishing last in protecting young fans: F1’s six decades of driving addiction
Jorge Alday A small child in a red Ferrari suit advertising Zyn at the Japanese Grand Prix in late March should be a wake-up call for anyone not yet attuned to the dangers of tobacco sponsorship in Formula 1. This follows the December 2025 announcement extending Philip Morris International (PMI)’s sponsorship of the Ferrari Formula […]
Tobacco Industry Ties Exposed in Swiss Universities
Michela Canevascini, Pascal Diethelm & Sophie Lonchampt A recent investigation by the Swiss Transparency and Truth initiative, led by OxySuisse, reveals widespread collaborations between tobacco companies and Swiss universities. The report documents 29 partnerships involving 16 academic institutions between 2019 and 2024. These findings raise important concerns. The tobacco industry uses scientific collaborations to gain […]
Smyle Labs’ Focus on ‘Discreet’ and ‘Novelty’ Products Requires Regulatory Action
George Pearson, Megan C. Diaz & Jennifer M. Kreslake Based out of California, Smyle Labs is a producer of atomizers, batteries, cartomizers, clearomisers and empty tank systems. While, officially describing itself as a “trendsetter in the aromatherapy accessories industry,” it is clear that Smyle Labs produces products intended for cannabis and nicotine users looking for […]
Unmasking Tobacco Industry’s Corporate Social Responsibility in Oman
Ruth Mabry & Jawad A. Al-Lawati The 2026 World No Tobacco Day (WNTD) theme calls for stronger policies to protect youth and targets the marketing of e-cigarettes and similar products as innovative or less harmful aimed at attracting new users, particularly young people. With stricter bans on tobacco advertising, the tobacco industry reverts to corporate social […]
Making Tobacco Endgame Inevitable: how the narratives we use influence the normalization of tobacco elimination
Eline Goethals, Chris Bostic & Megan Manning The evidence for the tobacco endgame is there. The policies exist, and the public is ready. On average, 72% of people across countries support phasing out commercial cigarette sales. In the Netherlands, 63% of young people agree the tobacco and vape industry should not exist. Jurisdictions in the […]
Bangladesh’s Tobacco Control Law Amendment 2025: A Bold Step for Public Health
Md. Hasan Shahriar, Md. Mehedi Hasan, Md. Shahedul Alam & ABM Zubair. Bangladesh’s Tobacco Control Law Amendment 2025: A Bold Step for Public Health Bangladesh remains among the countries most heavily burdened by tobacco use, with more than one-third of adults consuming tobacco and an estimated 130,000 tobacco-attributable deaths each year. The resulting health, environmental, […]
Behind Closed Doors: Tobacco industry lobbying in the EU aims to weaken health policies worldwide
Martin Drago, Cassandre Bigaignon & Jorge Alday A new report, Behind Closed Doors: How the Tobacco Lobby Influences the European Union and Beyond, exposes the scale and tactics of well-resourced, coordinated tobacco industry lobbying at the heart of decision-making within the European Union (EU) and its current focus on increasing the availability of the industry’s […]
India’s Tobacco Taxation Reform 2025-26: A Paradigm Shift with Persisting Disparities
Rijo M. John, PhD The tobacco taxation regime in India remained largely unchanged following the introduction of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) in 2017. This situation evolved following deliberations at the 56th meeting of the GST Council in September 2025 and the enactment of subsequent legislation. Together these initiated a comprehensive restructuring of the […]
The European Prison Smoking Ban Ruling: An Urgent Wake-Up Call for Tobacco Control Litigation
By: Aikaterini (Katerina) Tsampi On 4 November 2025, in the case of Vainik and Others v. Estonia, the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) issued a judgment that could have serious implications for health rights and tobacco control policies in Europe (Council of Europe Member States) – if not beyond. The ECtHR found that the […]