Public health experts have called for stronger legislation and stricter enforcement to curb tobacco consumption among youth, warning that smoking continues to claim more than eight million lives globally each year — roughly one in every ten deaths worldwide.
The figure includes over seven million direct smokers and around 1.3 million non-smokers who die prematurely due to exposure to second-hand smoke.
In its latest report issued in connection with World No Tobacco Day, observed annually on May 31, the World Health Organisation (WHO) warned that Oman could become one of only three countries in the region expected to witness an increase in the number of smokers by 2030.
“This is not accidental. It is the result of deliberate strategies — flavours that mask harshness, attractive packaging, and digital marketing that normalises use,” said Dr Hanan Balkhy, WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean.
“Combined with weak regulation, enforcement gaps, and persistent industry interference, these tactics are driving a growing and evolving epidemic,” she added.
The region already faces one of the highest burdens of youth tobacco use globally, with an estimated 5.5 million children aged 13 to 15 currently using tobacco products, highlighting how early exposure contributes to lifelong nicotine addiction.
In Oman, around 17 per cent of the population is estimated to be addicted to smoking, with higher prevalence reported among expatriates from countries where tobacco use remains widespread.
Speaking to Observer on the sidelines of World No Tobacco Day, Dr Jawad al Lawati, Head of Tobacco Control, MoH, said cigarette companies and sellers of tobacco and nicotine products are increasingly using the term “novel” to market alternative products — a practice he said runs contrary to national tobacco control policy.
“Global tobacco control policies, government interventions, and public awareness campaigns have contributed to declining smoking rates worldwide. In response, the tobacco industry has shifted toward alternative nicotine products, including e-cigarettes, heated tobacco products, and nicotine pouches, prioritising market survival over public health,” Dr Al Lawati said.
“While products have evolved, the industry’s strategy remains the same — sustaining nicotine addiction, expanding consumer bases, and adapting to stronger tobacco control measures under the guise of innovation. This needs to be checked immediately,” he stressed.
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