Join us on Wednesday, June 3, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. (EST or Washington, D.C. time) for the webinar "Products designed to hook new generations: unmasking the tactics of the tobacco and nicotine industries". This webinar will highlight the strategies used by the tobacco and nicotine industries to make their products more appealing, particularly to young people and new users.
These strategies include the use of sugars and appealing flavors that mask the harshness of nicotine and facilitate the consumption of both conventional and emerging tobacco and nicotine products. Another tactic is the rapid expansion of products marketed as "innovations", such as nicotine pouches, e-cigarettes, and other electronic devices, which pose regulatory and communications challenges while industry interference continues to obstruct effective policy implementation.
WHO has warned that across all its regions, e-cigarette use among adolescents aged 13 to 15 is higher than among adults. In the Americas, an estimated 2 million adolescents use these products. This webinar seeks to analyze how these dynamics are unfolding in the Americas and to strengthen coordinated regional responses, in commemoration of World No Tobacco Day 2026.
Objectives
- Inform PAHO Member States, civil society organizations, and academic institutions about tobacco and related industries' tactics used to promote tobacco and nicotine products, particularly among young people in the Region of the Americas.
- Share regional advocacy and accountability strategies, including the Make Big Tobacco Pay campaign and the use of artificial intelligence to monitor industry tactics.
- Join the call of World No Tobacco Day 2026 for urgent action to protect young people through comprehensive, evidence-based policies that include emerging tobacco and nicotine products.
- Strengthen coordination among partners and regional collaboration.
How to participate
- DATE: Wednesday, June 3, 2026
- TIME: 11:00 a.m. (Washington, DC time or EST)
- LANGUAGES: The webinar will have interpretation in Spanish and English.
- REGISTER: https://vitalstrategies.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_mWxGMJq5RBeZXEKbMaF9AA#/registration
Agenda
- Opening and moderation
- Gustavo Sóñora, Vital Strategies
- World No Tobacco Day 2026: Unmasking the appeal, countering tobacco and nicotine addiction
- Diana Cerón Díaz, Pan American Health Organization
- World No Tobacco Day 2026 Awards: Winners from the Region of the Americas
- Rosa Sandoval, Pan American Health Organization
- Industry tactics and accountability — Make Big Tobacco Pay! campaign
- Daniel Dorado, Corporate Accountability
- Jaime Arcila, Corporate Accountability
- Legislation to close legal loopholes and advocacy strategies
- Patricia Sosa, Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids
- Gianella Severini, Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids
- Using artificial intelligence to identify industry marketing tactics: evidence from Mexico for Latin America
- Jorge Vega, Vital Strategies
- Vital Strategies Report on Nicotine Pouches (ONP)
- Erick Antonio Ochoa, Salud Justa
- Questions and answers — Closing remarks
- Gustavo Sóñora, Vital Strategies
Related links
World No Tobacco Day 2026 - campaign website
PAHOs Tobacco Control work in the Region of the Americas
Time in other cities
- 8:00 a.m. – Los Angeles, Vancouver.
- 9:00 a.m. - Belmopan, Guatemala City, Managua, Mexico City, San Salvador, San José (Costa Rica), Tegucigalpa.
- 10:00 a.m. - Bogotá, Kingston, Lima, Panama City, Quito,
- 11:00 a.m. - Bridgetown, Caracas, Georgetown, Havana, La Paz, Nassau, Ottawa, Port-au-Prince, Port of Spain, San Juan, Santo Domingo, Saint George's, Saint John's (Antigua), Santiago, Washington D.C.
- 12:00 p.m. – Asunción, Buenos Aires, Brasilia, Montevideo, Paramaribo.
- 5:00 p.m. – Geneva, Madrid.
For other cities, check the local times in the following link.