Big Tobacco’s flavored cigarettes are thriving in Latin America, despite global bans and promises of a “smoke-free future.”
María Pérez, Jason McLure and Francisca Skoknic report for The Examination.
In short:
- Tobacco giants Philip Morris International and British American Tobacco dominate Latin American markets with flavored "click" cigarettes that appeal to youth through fruity flavors and flashy marketing.
- Efforts to ban these flavors have repeatedly failed, with industry lobbying blocking regulations and leveraging political influence to stall public health initiatives.
- Flavored cigarettes are linked to increased youth smoking rates, contributing to the region’s tobacco-related health crisis, which costs governments billions annually and results in over 250,000 deaths each year.
Key quote:
“It’s evidence that the smoke-free world strategy of Philip Morris is simply a facade.”
— Jaime Arcila, Corporate Accountability.
Why this matters:
Flavored cigarettes are pulling a new generation into nicotine addiction, undermining public health and fueling Latin America’s smoking epidemic. With fruity smoke screens hiding the deadly consequences, the region’s kids are caught in a cycle of addiction that public health advocates are scrambling to break. Read more: Liquid used in e-cigarettes damages cells crucial for a healthy heart.
