“Candy”, “Cherry”, the end of flavored tobacco in Taiwan?

In Taiwan, health authorities want to ban flavored tobacco products, criticized for their popularity among young people[1].

Taiwan's Health Authority (HPA) is proposing an amendment to revise the Tobacco Risk Prevention Act, which has remained unchanged for 13 years.[2].

Aggressive marketing of youth

According to the HPA, approximately 40% of young Taiwanese smokers reported having consumed flavored cigarettes in 2019, with these products being more popular among the female population. In the same year, the country recorded more than 1,200 different tobacco flavors. Among the most consumed are menthol and vanilla, but also caramel, candy, cherry, butter, almond or rose flavors. The nature of these flavors mentioned below is a demonstration of the tobacco industry's desire to target the younger generations. As the HPA points out, these products are all the more dangerous because they mislead young consumers. They are more likely to believe that these products are less dangerous for their health, and to underestimate the addictive properties of nicotine. These products are also intended to make it easier for young people to start smoking by reducing the acrid and irritating nature of tobacco.

Responding to the growing popularity of new tobacco and nicotine products

Beyond flavored tobacco products, the amendment also aims to regulate the use of new tobacco and nicotine products. According to the Health Promotion Administration, more than 16,000 young people in Taiwan reported smoking heated tobacco, while 57,000 said they were e-cigarette users. The HPA also noted that the use of heated tobacco or e-cigarettes was often done in addition to traditional cigarettes. This undermines the tobacco industry's current narrative of presenting these new innovations as health solutions to the tobacco epidemic. Not only is the use of these products in addition to that of manufactured cigarettes, but e-cigarettes and heated tobacco are also seen as gateways to nicotine and tobacco consumption.

Keywords: Taiwan, Flavors

©Generation Without Tobacco

[1] Taiwan mulls ban on flavored cigarettes, Taiwan News, 05/11/2020, accessed 16/11/2015

[2] Vaping, HTP use on rise among youth as Taiwan mulls tightening controls, Taiwan News, 10/22/2020, accessed 11/16/2020