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 […]
Category: Marketing/Advertising
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 […]
“#Anywhere, Anytime:” Smartphone Vape Cases
Eric Shanazari, Reid C. Whaley, Jennifer B. Unger & Artur Galimov. Smartphones and social media dominate the lives of young adults and e-cigarettes are increasingly also part of the picture. Emerging nicotine products enable users to engage in all three behaviors through a single device. E-cigarette companies have produced products that appeal to youth, including […]
Smart Disposable E-cigarettes: characteristics and capabilities of new generation devices
Artur Galimov, Liam Obaid, Jennifer B. Unger Despite ongoing regulatory efforts to curb the vaping epidemic, the tobacco industry continues to introduce new products with innovative features. The industry has been particularly creative in attracting younger audiences by marketing devices that resemble toys and vaping devices with built-in video games. Recently, e-cigarette manufacturers launched a […]
The Ploom case: defying German law
Dr. Katrin Schaller In Germany, the heated tobacco product (HTP) ‘Iqos’ from Philip Morris has been available since 2017 and ‘Glo’ from British American Tobacco since 2020. In May 2024, Japan Tobacco International (JTI) became the third tobacco company to launch its HTP ‘Ploom’ in Germany. When it was launched, Ploom was available online throughout […]
Is tobacco promotion through music making a comeback?
Alexander Barker We know that there are tobacco references in music and in the image portrayed by musicians, often associated with themes of rebellion. Smoking content in the media is a causal factor in experimentation and uptake by young people, likely due to social learning. Furthermore, the tobacco industry has previously attempted to target ‘hip’ […]
China’s e-cigarette manufacturers facing uncertain future
Ross MacKenzie, Jennifer Fang and Julia Smith China’s electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) industry accounts for close to 90% of global production. Based in Shenzhen in Guangdong province, an estimated 3,900 manufacturers employed some 2 million people in 2018 and reported sales of 33.7bn yuan (US$ 4.8bn) and exports worth 28.7bn yuan (US$ 4bn). Figures for […]
Mexico: cultural icons and giveaways for vaping advertising on Instagram
Guadalupe Ponciano-Rodríguez and Carlos Alberto Chávez Castillo Although they are legally forbidden in Mexico, Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS) have increased in popularity, despite the fact that evidence about their potential harms and benefits is still evolving and contested. Vaping-related advertising on social media is increasing, particularly on platforms popular with young people. We recently […]
World: PMI in global motorsport smoke-free PR spin
John Baker Mission Winnow (MW) is a PMI campaign claiming to focus on “…innovation and technology to expedite change” through sponsorship of the Ferrari Formula One (F1) team, the Pramac MotoE team and the Ducati MotoGP team. Ducati launched its 2019 bikes at PMI’s Cube building, with PMI’s Miroslaw Zielinski and the MW logo designer, […]
Tobacco is deadly. Calling it ‘popular’ may send the wrong message
Stephanie R. Land and Wen-Ying Sylvia Chou National Cancer Institute, USA Tobacco control efforts are regularly complicated by the entry of new tobacco products into the marketplace. New products are often not well understood by the public, including members of the target markets, healthcare professionals, and community leaders. For example, we may lack information […]