Flavored heated tobacco products (HTPs), known as “sticks,” are one of the main tools the industry uses to recruit a new generation of nicotine consumers. They are already used by 7% of Ukrainian teenagers aged 13–15 (https://lnk.ua/v8dul1mGc).
Flavoring additives mask the harsh taste of tobacco, reduce throat irritation, make the first puff easier, and dull the natural psychological barrier of “this is dangerous.” Instead of associating the product with poison, teenagers experience familiar flavors like mango, berries, watermelon, or popular cocktails. Advertising visuals appeal exclusively to “vivid sensations,” transforming a toxic product into an object of curiosity.
Facts and statistics on the prevalence of heated tobacco products:
- 9% of young people aged 18–29 use tobacco sticks daily (compared to 3% among the older adult population);
- 81% of young consumers buy only flavored products, and 28% openly admit that flavor is the main reason for trying them (https://lnk.ua/jKo4QKLcV);
- 38% of respondents aged 18–29 mistakenly believe the myth that tobacco sticks are “less harmful” than regular cigarettes.
For tobacco corporations, flavorings equate to stable profits. According to the WHO, the vast majority of smokers try nicotine for the first time before the age of 18. A person who becomes hooked during adolescence often remains addicted for decades.
The pattern is simple: first, an appealing flavor; then, regular use; and finally, severe nicotine addiction.
12091, which would ban flavored e-cigarettes, should serve as an effective barrier. The bill specifically targets the marketing tactics used to lure young people into smoking. The public shares this view: 65% of Ukrainian citizens support a complete ban on flavored e-cigarettes.
Children and young people are the future of the country, not a resource for enriching the tobacco industry. The Verkhovna Rada must support Bill No. 12091!