The WFPHA Tobacco Control Working Group

The WFPHA Tobacco Control Working Group brings together public health professionals from across WFPHA member associations to strengthen global action on tobacco and nicotine. Dr. John Gannon (Ireland) chairs the group. Members are presently drawn from 12 countries, and new members are always welcome.

Four members of the Tobacco Control Working Group at a panel

What is tobacco control?

Tobacco control covers the policies, regulations, and interventions that reduce tobacco and nicotine use and the harm they cause across populations. It includes measures to prevent initiation, support cessation, protect people from second-hand smoke, and counter the tactics of the tobacco and nicotine industries. The WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) is the global foundation for this work.

Why is tobacco control important to public health?

  • Tobacco kills more than 8 million people every year, including around 1.3 million non-smokers exposed to second-hand smoke.
  • Most of the world’s tobacco users live in low- and middle-income countries, where the burden of tobacco-related illness and death is greatest.
  • The tobacco industry continues to interfere in public health policymaking, a threat recognized in Article 5.3 of the WHO FCTC.
  • E-cigarettes, heated tobacco, and nicotine pouches are being marketed to young people, including through social media, creating new routes to nicotine addiction.
  • Tobacco harms the environment throughout its life cycle, from deforestation in cultivation to cigarette butts and e-cigarette waste.
  • Tobacco endgame strategies, such as smoke-free generation policies, offer countries a pathway to ending the tobacco epidemic altogether.

Aims of the WFPHA Tobacco Control Working Group

The working group aims to support WFPHA members in reducing tobacco and nicotine harm worldwide by:

  • Exposing and countering tobacco and nicotine industry tactics
  • Generating evidence on emerging challenges, including youth-appealing nicotine marketing online and the environmental impact of e-cigarettes
  • Building support for tobacco endgame strategies and strong regulation of e-cigarettes and novel nicotine products
  • Collaborating with other WFPHA Working Groups to integrate tobacco control into wider public health priorities, including maternal, oral, environmental and non-communicable disease health
  • Sharing knowledge and amplifying the public health voice through webinars, conferences and publications

    Current work

    Youth-appealing nicotine content on social media: a 12-country analysis. Working group members audited the most visible vaping and nicotine pouch content on TikTok and Instagram across 12 countries. Of 1,904 unique posts, almost half were promotional, more than half featured young creators, and fewer than 1 in 10 carried an advertising disclosure. Manuscript in preparation.

    Publications 

      Conference and events (past and upcoming):

      • World Congress on Public Health, Cape Town, South Africa, 2026
      • World Conference on Tobacco Control, Dublin, Ireland, 2025
      • European Public Health Conference, Lisbon, Portugal, 2024
      • World Congress on Public Health, Rome, Italy 2023

      The WFPHA Tobacco Control Working Group media activity 

      Tobacco Control resources

      Opportunities to work with the WFPHA Tobacco Control Working Group

      The working group meets quarterly and welcomes collaboration with WFPHA members, Working Groups, and partner organizations. Members contribute to research, publications, webinars and conference presentations. If you are interested in getting involved, please use the WFPHA contact form.