On May 31st, World No Tobacco Day is observed to draw attention to the prevalence of tobacco use and its effects on consumers worldwide.
On this occasion, InfoCons reminds the public of the educational and informational Campaigns carried out on this topic, including the “Stop the use of all smoking-related products” Campaign. This campaign was conducted in line with European best practices for banning tobacco use in designated areas according to the law.
InfoCons supports consumers with the European InfoCons App, a useful tool available in 33 languages, which can be downloaded from the stores : App Store, Google Play, and App Gallery. To help raise awareness about the impact of tobacco on individuals’ health as consumers, the European InfoCons App’s SOS section allows users to contact local authorities responsible for tobacco regulation if they notice violations of tobacco bans in enclosed spaces. This section of the app can also be used offline.
Read also : Pay attention to Alerts for Dangerous Toys and Clothing Products for Children’s Day! Stay Informed with the European InfoCons App!
Additionally, the European InfoCons App provides consumers with useful information such as:
- Quick access to national and international emergency numbers via the S.O.S. function if users notice violations of tobacco bans in enclosed spaces. This section is available offline, and phone numbers can be called directly from the app.
- Quick access to emergency numbers worldwide.
- Emergency alerts across the European Union for the safety and health of individuals.
- Scanning the barcode of food product labels and instantly providing information in the native language about that product: ingredients, number and types of additives, sugar and salt content, presence of allergens.
- Customizing the app for those with specific health issues and special diets by setting limits for salt, sugar, allergens, number, and types of additives.
- Alert settings based on preferences regarding food products.
Read also : Consumer Protection – InfoCons Guide for Participants at the 2024 European Football Championship (UEFA Euro 2024)
This year’s theme for World No Tobacco Day, established by the World Health Organization (WHO), is “Protecting Children from Tobacco Industry Interference”.
This theme provides a platform for young people and decision-makers globally to discuss the issue of targeting youth with harmful tobacco products. The aim is to urge governments to adopt policies that protect young people from the manipulative tactics of tobacco and related industries. While cigarette smoking has declined over the years due to the efforts of the tobacco control community, this year’s theme highlights the need to do more in this endeavor.
According to 2022 data, at least 37 million young people aged 13–15 worldwide use some form of tobacco. In the WHO European Region, 11.5% of boys and 10.1% of girls aged 13–15 are tobacco users, totaling 4 million.
Read also : Emergency Phone Numbers around the world
Products such as electronic cigarettes and nicotine pouches have gained even more popularity among youth in recent years. It is estimated that 12.5% of adolescents in the WHO European Region used e-cigarettes in 2022, compared to 2% of adults. In some countries in the region, the rate of e-cigarette use among school children is 2–3 times higher than the rate of cigarette smoking.
Source: World Health Organization (WHO)