← NewsAll
United Kingdom news is currently paused for latest updates. We'll resume retrieval when enough requests come in.
European girls aged 13–15 have the world's highest tobacco use rate
Summary
A World Health Organization analysis reports that girls aged 13–15 in Europe have the highest tobacco use rate worldwide, and that about 14.3% of 13–15-year-olds in the region regularly use e-cigarettes.
Content
Teenage girls in Europe now have the highest tobacco use rate for their age group globally, according to a World Health Organization analysis. The same WHO study reports that roughly one in seven adolescents in Europe regularly use vapes or e-cigarettes. The analysis also finds Europe is likely to remain the world's largest consumer of tobacco through 2030, and attributes rising youth nicotine use in part to industry marketing and product design. Officials emphasised the need for stronger regulatory responses and noted that some countries have started to restrict flavours and advertising.
Key findings:
- European girls aged 13–15 have the highest tobacco use rate among that age group worldwide, as reported by WHO.
- About 14.3% of children aged 13–15 in Europe are regular e-cigarette users, described as the highest teenage prevalence globally.
- Around four in ten adult female smokers worldwide, about 62 million women, live in Europe.
- The region is on course to remain the largest tobacco consumer to 2030, and tobacco use is estimated to cause about 1.1 million deaths in Europe each year.
- Only about a third of European countries have smoke-free laws covering all public spaces, and roughly a quarter have bans on tobacco advertising; a few countries, including Belgium, Denmark and the Netherlands, have moved to regulate novel products and ban flavours.
Summary:
The WHO analysis highlights a sustained and evolving pattern of tobacco and nicotine use in Europe, with notable increases among young people and continuing high prevalence among women. WHO regional officials called for accelerated action and enforcement of regulations, while noting that some countries have begun regulatory changes; the next region-wide steps or legal procedures are undetermined at this time.
