World No Tobacco Day, May 31

Bright Products. Dark Intentions. Uncovering the Appeal

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the tobacco epidemic is one of the greatest threats to public health humanity has ever faced. Every year, tobacco claims the lives of more than 8 million people worldwide—over 7 million of these deaths result from direct tobacco use, while approximately 1.3 million are caused by second-hand smoke exposure among non-smokers. The nicotine in tobacco is highly addictive, and tobacco use is a leading risk factor for cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, more than 20 types of cancer, and numerous other severe health conditions. There is no safe level of tobacco exposure—every form of tobacco consumption is harmful, with cigarette smoking remaining the most common.

This year’s theme for World No Tobacco Day is Bright Products. Dark Intentions. Uncovering the Appeal. The campaign aims to raise awareness of the tobacco industry’s manipulative tactics, which use attractive flavors, sleek packaging designs, and glamorous marketing to disguise the real dangers of their products. These strategies specifically target young people, creating an illusion of safety and a “cool” image that often leads to the first steps toward addiction.

Flavor additives mask the natural harshness of tobacco, making it easier to start using and harder to quit. According to WHO estimates, around 37 million children aged 13 to 15 worldwide use tobacco products. In many countries, the number of young users of electronic cigarettes surpasses that of adults. Promotional content advertising e-cigarettes, nicotine pouches, and heated tobacco products has been viewed over 3.4 billion times on social media. This highlights the urgent need for stricter regulations to remove the appeal of these products and protect the health of current and future generations.

On a societal level, tobacco addiction carries significant economic and social consequences. The cost of treating tobacco-related diseases, combined with productivity losses due to illness and premature death, places a heavy burden on healthcare systems and the overall economy.

Tobacco Control Law in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina – Is It Being Enforced?

As of December 13, 2024, the Rulebook adopted under the Law on Control and Restricted Use of Tobacco, Tobacco Products and Other Smoking Products in the Federation of BiH came into effect. Although the Rulebook officially took effect, the first six months were designated for inspections to issue warnings to business owners, with the imposition of fines scheduled to begin on June 13, 2025.

The Rulebook differentiates hospitality establishments based on their size and services:

– Establishments up to 50 m² serving only drinks – the owner may decide whether the premises will be smoking or non-smoking. If smoking is allowed, the establishment must be equipped with a ventilation and air filtration system, as well as a device for measuring and displaying air pressure data.
-Establishments up to 50 m² serving both food and drinks – smoking is completely prohibited under current regulations.
-Establishments larger than 50 m² – may have a designated smoking room, which must not be smaller than 10 m² or larger than 20% of the total service area.

Despite the legal framework, the smoking ban is still not widely enforced in most hospitality venues. Smoking continues as before, and only a small number of establishments are making partial efforts to comply with legal requirements. Smoking areas are often not physically separated, size limitations are ignored, and ventilation and filtration systems required to reduce smoke exposure are frequently absent.

Azra Halilović

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