Tobacco-Free Kids Global

Far from putting cigarettes in museums, Philip Morris is aggressively promoting cigarettes around the world. Shameful. The Guardian: theguardian.com/society/2026/m…

The hypocrisy is impossible to miss: Philip Morris claims cigarettes “belong in museums” while simultaneously rolling out a massive Marlboro ad campaign that ties cigarettes to youth identity, ambition and self-expression. According to The Guardian, Philip Morris is tailoring Marlboro messaging and catchy slogans in at least 20 countries: In Indonesia: “I am authentic. I am Marlboro.” In Germany: “Make your own legacy.” In Bangladesh: “My race. My pace.”

Youth advocates from around the world are joining the call for Formula 1 (@F1) to ban all tobacco sponsorships and stop helping Big Tobacco peddle addiction to kids. F1 is attracting millions of young people through partnerships with brands like @Disney, @LEGO_Group and Hot Wheels. Tobacco giants Philip Morris International and British American Tobacco are sponsoring F1 teams to market their nicotine pouch and e-cigarette products to these young fans. If F1 cares about the health of its young fans, it should end tobacco sponsorships once and for all.

.@jonasbrothers -- brought to you by the world’s largest tobacco company?! The @JonasBrothers of @Disney fame are taking the stage in Mexico this weekend for a crowd aged three and up at a festival sponsored by ZYN nicotine pouches. We know why Philip Morris International is partnering with bands like the Jonas Brothers: to make nicotine addiction look normal and recruit a new generation of young users. The real question: why are the Jonas Brothers willing to help them do it. @JonasBrothers, stop helping Big Tobacco target your young fans. @SaludJustaMx @creared_ @serajac

The evidence is not new. The question is whether policymakers are ready to act on it. Read the editorial here: dhakatribune.com/opinion/editor…

“Tobacco is killing our people, draining our economy, and undermining our future.” That is the warning from a new Dhaka Tribune editorial calling for Bangladesh to take stronger action on tobacco control. The piece argues that without decisive reforms, including higher tobacco taxes and a simplified tax structure, the country’s goal of becoming tobacco-free will remain out of reach. The editorial also notes that other countries have already shown that strong tobacco tax measures save lives and strengthen health systems.

Here’s a look back at highlights from last night’s Youth Advocates of the Year Awards. Congrats to all of this year’s award recipients from around the world. Learn about this year’s honorees at awards.tobaccofreekids.org #YAYA2026 @OMISuruguay @PAVPhilippines

What stood out throughout the discussion was how much progress depends on networks of advocates, researchers, civil society organizations, youth leaders and community partners working together over time. Each honoree spoke not only about major policy victories, but also about the persistence, collaboration, collective effort and long-term vision behind them. We’re grateful to Alejandra, Diego, Judy and Patricia for sharing their experiences and insights this morning, and we look forward to celebrating all of our honorees at tomorrow’s awards ceremony. Learn more about the event at tfk.org/awards

This morning, Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids and Global Health Advocacy Incubator staff had the opportunity to hear directly from three remarkable public health advocates whose work is driving advocacy on the world’s most important public health issues. Moderated by Patricia Sosa, our head of Latin America programs, setting the stage for our annual awards celebration, the conversation brought together three of our honorees for a wide-ranging discussion about advocacy, coalition-building and the importance of strong partnerships. We were honored to hear from: • Alejandra Leal, Co-Director of Céntrico in Mexico and recipient of the 2026 Global Health Advocacy Changemaker Award, honoring her work advancing the right to mobility and stronger road safety laws across Mexico. • Diego Rodríguez Sendoya, President of the Multidisciplinary Organization for Social Integration (OMIS) in Uruguay and recipient of the 2026 Judy Wilkenfeld Award for International Tobacco Control Excellence, honoring his leadership in defending and strengthening Uruguay’s world-leading tobacco control policies. • Judy Cortes Delos Reyes, Project Leader for Parents Against Vape in the Philippines and recipient of the 2026 Youth Advocate of the Year Award, honoring his work mobilizing youth and parents to push for stronger protections against youth e-cigarette use and nicotine addiction.

One company’s products have likely killed at least 57 million people since 1990, making it the world’s deadliest company. Meet China Tobacco. fern unpacks how the company shapes China’s health policies: bit.ly/4n6yKPH Read the investigation ⬇️ theexamination.org/articles/deadl…

A huge moment for public health in Zambia. Parliament has officially adopted the Tobacco Control Bill following its final reading, marking a major milestone and a clear demonstration of leadership in protecting communities from tobacco-related harm. The bill includes critical provisions that strengthen its impact, including the establishment of a tobacco control fund to support implementation and enforcement of tobacco control policies over the long term. The bill also raises the minimum legal age for tobacco sales from 18 to 21, an important step in reducing access among young people and helping prevent lifelong addiction. Taken together, these measures position Zambia to make meaningful progress in reducing tobacco use and addressing the growing burden of non-communicable diseases. This is the kind of forward-looking policy action that delivers real results for families, communities and health systems. Parliament’s adoption continues strong momentum in support of the bill, and we urge President Hichilema to sign it into law this week. Congratulations to Zambia’s parliament and to all those across government, civil society and academia who contributed to this important moment.

This sequence reinforced a vital truth: communications and media skills are the essential backbone of mounting campaigns that support policy wins. Participants didn't just listen; they heard directly from newsrooms about what makes a story stand out and then put their new digital storytelling skills to the test through real-world pitching and immediate feedback. This is a model that works—strengthening advocacy efforts far beyond a single workshop. 🌍💪

What happens when you bring together the brightest comms leads from across our Philippines alliance? You get a powerful shift in advocacy potential. Participants kicked things off with an intensive two-day Digital Media Storytelling Masterclass, where they focused on how to leverage digital platforms to tell impactful, human-centered stories that resonate. Building on that momentum, our local partners then brought the group together for a hands-on media day designed to build the confidence needed to navigate the local media landscape and engage directly with journalists.

.@F1 + Big Tobacco = kid addiction. It doesn’t add up. For decades, tobacco companies have used the same playbook— make their harmful and addictive products look fun and exciting and market them to young people. They’re still at it. Tobacco giants Philip Morris International and British American Tobacco are sponsoring Formula 1 racing teams to market their products to F1’s fast-growing youth audience. That’s why we launched our End the Formula campaign to call it out and urge F1 to end all tobacco sponsorships. Take action at EndTheFormula.com.

Tobacco use continues to drive non-communicable diseases in Bangladesh, putting pressure on the local health system. Ahead of the FY2026-27 budget, experts are urging effective tobacco taxes, a proven way to reduce tobacco use and prevent disease. The data is clear -- this is a moment for decisive action. Read more: tbsnews.net/bangladesh/hea…

The United Kingdom has approved a new law that will ban the sale of cigarettes and all forms of tobacco products to children who are under 17 and prevent anyone born in the future from ever being able to legally buy these products. It also includes new limits on e-cigarette and nicotine pouch sales and advertising, adding to existing policies like smoke-free public places and plain packaging. Tobacco use remains a major global health challenge, and countries continue to take different policy approaches. The WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control outlines measures that can help reduce use and prevent initiation.

🌍 African countries are strengthening regional collaboration to address the growing challenge of illicit tobacco trade 🚭 🤝 At a recent meeting, participants advanced progress toward joining the Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products. 📊 By accelerating accession, countries can better protect public health, reduce illegal markets, and safeguard vital government revenues fctc.who.int/newsroom/news/…

Earlier this month, China’s third Youth Tobacco Control Leadership Camp was held in Jing De Zhen City, Jiangxi Province. Forty university students with expertise in art and graphic design took part in the camp, learning about tobacco control while creating visual concepts to support smoke-free environments. The students’ work highlights that smoke-free spaces are not only essential for protecting public health but are also an important factor for tourists when choosing travel destinations.