Tobacco control around the globe

Early findings from an ongoing E-cigarette study suggest the urgent need to close the regulatory gap in advertisement and marketing to youth

The Africa Centre for Tobacco Industry Monitoring and Policy Research (ATIM) has released early data from an online survey of young adults aged 18 to 34 conducted in 2021 and trends in purchase channels and sales volume between 2019 and 2022. These major findings were presented during the Protect Our Next Press Conference on May […]

E-cigarettes glamorized on social media – putting youth at risk

Social media platforms such as Instagram, TikTok and Facebook used to overwhelmingly show the use of e-cigarettes in a positive light, undoing some of the positive work done to ban the advertising of traditional tobacco. According to Curtin University’s research, young people who see social media posts featuring e-cigarettes are more likely to vape and […]

What can the “public health playbook” offer those advocating for a healthy, safe climate?

By: Jennifer Lacy-Nichols, Robert Marten, Eric Crosbie, Olalekan Ayo-Yusuf and Rob Moodie Published: 28 July 2022 The experts write, “Many powerful businesses actively oppose public health policies and actions – for example, warning labels on alcohol or access to generic medicines – because these threaten their profits.” Observing that this is achieved through strategies the […]

ATIM Press Release: Bin ‘Tobacco Trash’ for good this World No Tobacco Day 2022

PRESS STATEMENT: 31 May 2022 31 May 2022, Tobacco control advocates across the globe gather to celebrate World No tobacco day. This is an annual event to raise awareness of the negative implications of tobacco use. This year’s theme aims to educate the public on the importance of protecting our environment from the threat of […]

Uganda Tobacco Industry Monitoring Report

The Africa Centre for Tobacco Industry Monitoring and Policy Research (ATIM) has published the Uganda Tobacco Industry Monitoring report. This is one of a series of reports on tobacco industry monitoring in Sub-Saharan Africa prompted by the need to provide a structured report of country experiences of tobacco industry interference and tobacco control. The aim […]

Kenya ratifies Protocol to eliminate Illicit Trade in tobacco

The Republic of Kenya has become the 59th country to sign the protocol to eliminate Illicit Trade in tobacco products. This will help the country to control smuggling of cigarettes more effectively and arrest criminals even outside its borders.  The protocol seeks to eliminate all forms of illicit trade in tobacco products in line with […]

ATCA Tobacco Industry Monitoring Capacity Building Workshop-Mauritania

The African Tobacco Control Alliance (ATCA) partnered with AMALUTS to organize a Tobacco Industry Monitoring and Response coaching meeting in Mauritania. The meeting took place on the 11th and 12th of February 2020. ATCA is working with Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University (SMU) Africa Centre for Tobacco Industry Monitoring and Policy Research (ATIM) BETA team […]

WHO global report on trends in prevalence of tobacco use

The World Health organisation has launched the third edition of the WHO global report on trends in prevalence of tobacco use 2000-2025. The report shows among other things that world over the number of people using tobacco is declining, despite population growth. There has been a steady decline in any tobacco use for both males […]

Global Tobacco Industry Interference Index launched

The first ever Global Tobacco Interference report has been launched. For the first time, governments are scored on how well they are combating industry interference. The global survey was undertaken in 33 countries and reflects on how public health policies are protected from the industry’s meddling efforts, and how governments have pushed back against this […]

Lobby faults BAT, opposes launch of tobacco product

Jekonia Otieno, Standard Digital Tobacco industry and tobacco control advocates have differed over plans to introduce a new product in the market. A lobby argues that at a time when cancer is killing 33,000 people annually, according to Kenya’s National Cancer Institute, all forms of tobacco products are dangerous. Three weeks ago, BAT Kenya announced […]

ATIM endorses Joint Letter to the UN Secretary General regarding the role of the Tobacco Industry in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development

ATIM supports the call for the General Secretary Guterres to reject the proposal by Mr Michael Møller (outgoing Director-General of the United Nations Office) for a “more nuanced” relationship between the tobacco industry and the UN system. This proposal undermines the milestones achieved for tobacco control and will threaten the progress towards the Sustainable Development […]

Focus on Kenya: Wiping out illicit trade

Last year in April, reports in local dailies indicated African countries lose Sh1trillion annually to illicit tobacco trade, often driven by cigarette manufacturers in a bid to evade taxation. This denies governments much-needed revenue from taxation, while at the same time, increasing supply (access) and affordability, hence, defeating public health goals. Studies show if global […]