📈 Prohibited Nicotine Products Gain Ground in Sri Lanka as Cigarette Sales Decline

Research by the Centre for Combating Tobacco (CCT) and YouPAH warns that declining demand for conventional cigarettes is driving increased market penetration of prohibited alternative nicotine products like vapes, e-cigarettes, and nicotine pouches. • Digital Sales Channels: A study identified 213 online platforms illegally marketing these products. ICT/BPM and social media channels are heavily utilized, led by Facebook at 50.7% (108 platforms), Instagram at 26.8% (57), TikTok at 8.9% (19), websites at 8.0% (17), and WhatsApp groups at 5.6% (12). Marketing tactics include influencer promotions and youth-appealing flavors. • Retail Availability: A field survey across 15 Colombo Municipal Council areas covering 1,067 retail outlets revealed that smokeless tobacco products are available in 15.9% (170 shops) of outlets, while e-cigarettes were found in 6 shops. Point-of-sale promotions were observed in 176 outlets. • Economic & Regulatory Impact: Experts highlight that national healthcare expenditure from tobacco-related diseases far outweighs government tax revenues. Regulatory bodies face severe challenges controlling online promotions originating from international social media platforms due to gaps in existing local laws. • Industry Strategy: CCT notes the tobacco industry is actively shifting toward non-combustible alternatives to secure new markets as global and local cigarette consumption falls. Researchers are calling for immediate enforcement, stronger digital platform regulations, and a "tobacco-free generation" policy for those born after 2010.