Tobacco’s Puff Faces Tough Stuff
Dublin/Geneva: In a landmark achievement, over 6.1 billion people—75% of the global population—were protected by at least one of the World Health Organization’s MPOWER tobacco control measures in 2024, according to the WHO Global Tobacco Epidemic 2025 report, unveiled at the World Conference on Tobacco Control in Dublin.
Marking 20 years since the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control took effect, this milestone reflects a fierce global push against tobacco, which claims over 7 million lives and causes widespread disability annually.
Yet, the report warns that aggressive tobacco industry interference, weak enforcement, and emerging products like e-cigarettes threaten to derail progress, urging nations to bolster policies to safeguard the unprotected.
MPOWER, launched by WHO in 2007, comprises six evidence-based strategies aligned with the Framework Convention: Monitor tobacco use and prevention policies, Protect people from second-hand smoke with smoke-free laws, Offer cessation support, Warn about tobacco’s dangers through graphic labels and media campaigns, Enforce bans on advertising, promotion, and sponsorship, and Raise tobacco taxes.
From 44 countries in 2007, 155 now implement at least one MPOWER measure at the best-practice level, covering 6.1 billion people, up from 1 billion. Countries with two or more measures have surged from 11 to 107, protecting 4.8 billion. Forty have three measures, seven have four, and four—Brazil, Mauritius, the Netherlands (Kingdom of the), and Türkiye—have all five, setting the global benchmark. Seven others—Ethiopia, Ireland, Jordan, Mexico, New Zealand, Slovenia, and Spain—are one measure from full adoption.
Despite this, 40 countries lack any best-practice MPOWER measure, with 28 not reaching the highest level for any measure. Twenty-eight are one step away, six needing only to increase health warning sizes to 50% or more. Over 30 countries allow cigarette sales without mandatory warnings, and smokeless tobacco packaging remains poorly regulated. Progress has slowed, with the COVID-19 pandemic disrupting policy adoption and new products like electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) complicating efforts. From 122 countries regulating ENDS in 2022, 133 now do so, but over 60 lack such rules. Case studies in the report highlight how countries, despite industry opposition, have advanced toward best practice, with five—Indonesia, Oman, Palau, Sierra Leone, and Uzbekistan—newly achieving it for at least one measure.
Graphic health warnings now cover 62% of the world across 110 countries, up from nine in 2007, with 25 adopting plain packaging, though enforcement is inconsistent. Mass media campaigns reach 36% of people, up from 19% in 2022, but 110 countries have not run them since 2022. Taxation lags in 134 countries, with only three reaching best practice since 2022. Cessation services cover just 33% of the population, and advertising bans span 25% across 68 countries. Second-hand smoke, killing 1.3 million yearly, is tackled by 79 countries’ smoke-free laws, protecting one-third of the world. Six countries—the Cook Islands, Indonesia, Malaysia, Sierra Leone, Slovenia, and Uzbekistan—enacted strong laws since 2022, defying industry resistance in hospitality sectors.
Supported by Bloomberg Philanthropies, the report launched with the 2025 Bloomberg Philanthropies Awards, honouring governments and NGOs. Michael R. Bloomberg, WHO Global Ambassador for Noncommunicable Diseases and Injuries, said, “Since Bloomberg Philanthropies started supporting global tobacco control efforts in 2007, there has been a sea change in the way countries prevent tobacco use, but there is still a long way to go. Bloomberg Philanthropies remains fully committed to WHO’s urgent work—and to saving millions more lives together.” A new WHO data portal tracks progress from 2007 to 2025.
Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, declared, “Twenty years since the adoption of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, we have many successes to celebrate, but the tobacco industry continues to evolve and so must we. By uniting science, policy, and political will, we can create a world where tobacco no longer claims lives, damages economies, or steals futures. Together, we can end the tobacco epidemic.” Dr Ruediger Krech, WHO Director of Health Promotion, added, “Governments must act boldly to close remaining gaps, strengthen enforcement, and invest in the proven tools that save lives. WHO calls on all countries to accelerate progress on MPOWER and ensure that no one is left behind in the fight against tobacco.”
The report demands renewed global resolve to end tobacco’s deadly toll.
– global bihari bureau
