3.7 crore youth are burning tobacco in their hearts, 1 death due to tobacco every 4 seconds

New Delhi: A popular film of the James Bond series was released in 1962, named James Bond-Doctor No. The famous actor of that time, Sean Connery, was seen in the role of James Bond in this film. Whenever he/she introduced himself in the film, he/she would light an e-cigarette and say my name is Bond, that is, James Bond. This style of introduction was adopted in later James Bond films. In many countries including India, e-cigarettes are promoted by saying that it is risk-free and smoke-free and it is socially acceptable. However, it has been proved all over the world that e-cigarettes are as dangerous for health as any common cigarette. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 1 tobacco user is losing his/her life every 4 seconds across the world. Today is World No Tobacco Day. On this occasion, we will know the story of the spread of e-cigarettes in the world.

E-cigarettes are sold under 400 different brand names in the world

The first electronic cigarette (e-cigarettes) was made in 1965. It was patented in 2003. However, e-cigarettes were first introduced in the North American market in 2007. Since then, it is sold under more than 400 different brands worldwide. According to the World Health Organization, the rate of e-cigarette smoking worldwide is much higher among children than adults.

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3.7 crore youth are smoking e-cigarettes, their heart and mind are all ‘smoke’

There are 1.3 billion tobacco users worldwide. This number can be even higher. According to WHO, more than half of the tobacco users die. Tobacco kills 1 user every 4 seconds. At the same time, more than 3.7 crore teenagers between 13 and 15 years of age are using e-cigarettes, which contain a lot of tobacco. According to a report published in Cleveland Clinic, nicotine and other things present in e-cigarettes can harm your heart and brain in addition to the lungs. Nicotine can harm the development of the brain. It can increase blood pressure and narrow the path of your arteries.

E-cigarettes started being sold in America during the Indo-Pak war of 1971

In 1971, after the ban on cigarette advertising in some places in the US, tobacco companies turned to youth and children. They started aggressively promoting e-cigarettes. This was the time when a war was being fought against India and Pakistan. According to a report by Skyquest Technology, the e-cigarette industry in the world will cross $28 billion (Rs 2.33 lakh crore) by 2023. With its growth rate of 4.5 percent, this industry is estimated to reach $66.2 billion (Rs 5.50 lakh crore) by 2033.

2500 crore views as soon as e-cigarette market entered

Due to the ban on e-cigarettes in some parts of the world including India, tobacco companies smartly turned to the digital market. After entering the e-cigarette market in 2007, they started promoting it on digital platforms with more than 100 hashtags, which have been viewed 2500 crore times worldwide from 2007 to 2016.

The world tobacco market is equal to America’s military expenditure

You may not believe it, but it is a fact that the tobacco market in the world has grown so much that it has crossed 900 billion dollars. This amount is almost equal to America’s military expenditure i.e. 916 billion dollars. This tobacco industry is expected to cross 1090 billion dollars by 2031.

E-cigarettes are being handed over to youth in candy and fruity flavors

Tobacco companies are so clever that they started selling sweet and fruit flavored e-cigarettes to attract youth, especially teenagers. The result was that even those who did not like cigarettes started taking tobacco in the form of e-cigarettes. According to researchers, there are more than 15 thousand e-cigarette flavors available in the world till now. Being thin and pocket friendly, this is another big reason for these cigarettes becoming increasingly popular among the youth.

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E-cigarettes were also handed over to cartoon characters

Some e-cigarette companies have been so clever that they have even put e-cigarettes in the hands of cartoon characters popular among children and teenagers. For example, unicorns have been shown promoting the companies’ sweet flavored e-cigarettes. Apart from this, e-cigarettes are also being shown extensively in films and TV serials, which are mostly watched by the youth.

Shopping malls and music concerts distribute free cigarettes

According to researchers, most companies have changed their marketing strategy and started distributing samples of nicotine and tobacco products in crowded areas where young people visit more. They distribute e-cigarettes for free at places like street corners, shopping malls, festivals and music concerts to attract new customers. At least 10 percent of children aged 13-15 in more than 50 countries are given e-cigarettes for free by tobacco companies. Children and young people’s favorite movies, especially the female characters of the James Bond series and the Hollywood film Basic Instinct, made cigarette smoking very popular.

Internet and digital marketing are making children victims

In many countries of the world, tobacco vending machines are installed at places where most of the youth and children come, so that they can easily get nicotine products. Most tobacco vending machines are installed near schools and parks, so that they can be lured. Nicotine products are being sold indiscriminately through the internet and digital marketing. In many countries, e-cigarettes are being sold at places where there are more shops of children’s toys, electronic gadgets, sweets, snacks.