National Council Against Smoking

18/08/2026

Twenty years ago today, a federal judge delivered a historic verdict against the to***co industry. Then-U.S. District Judge Gladys Kessler ruled the major U.S. to***co companies had violated civil racketeering laws (RICO) and engaged in a decades-long conspiracy to deceive the public about the health risks and addictiveness of ci******es and their marketing to kids.

This ruling remains an important reminder that to***co’s terrible toll is no accident. It stems directly from the to***co industry’s deceptive and even illegal practices. The To***co-Free Kids Action Fund participated as an intervenor in this case and worked to hold the to***co industry accountable – and we continue that work today.

17/08/2026

This morning we kicked off our week by delivering a interactive To***co and V**e Talk to three groups of senior learners at Kwaggasrand Technical Occupational School, in Pretoria.

The session was filled with fun quizzes and games about the health harms of to***co, chemical components hidden in flavoured v**es, mental health challenges associated with va**ng and most importantly how young people can protect their future through the choices they make today.

NCAS also shared tips and tricks on how to quit smoking and connected learners to our National Quitline for free support in quitting smoking.

14/08/2026

THE Youth for Health Coalition (YHC) yesterday condemned the growing number of minors using v**e products in the country.

Full story: https://www.sunstar.com.ph/manila/youth-group-slams-accessibility-of-v**es-for-minors

14/08/2026

Ladies, please come to the front!

The deliberate agenda to capture girls and women into a lifetime of addiction is not one to take lightly.

To***co companies have shifted from traditional ci******es to flavoured and discreet devices engineered to evade social stigma and regulatory control. Flavours such as strawberry, mint and vanilla mask the harshness of to***co, while sleek packaging that mimics cosmetics transforms addictive products into symbols of lifestyle aesthetics.

These products are structurally embedded in women’s environments: nearly half of all v**e shops are within 5km of educational institutions and ni****ne products appear at 50% of points of sale and 55% of social gatherings, making ni****ne products ubiquitous for young women.

NCAS Programme Director, Dr Motlatso Gondongwana shares more on this in her Opinion Piece in The Citizen News

Industry uses influencers and sleek flavours to normalise addiction as only 35% of women now see smoking as unacceptable.

13/08/2026

This International Youth Day, know the facts, protect your health, and say NO to to***co and v**es.

Protect our youth. Implement the To***co Control Act, 2021. Save lives.

***conetwork ***coFree

12/08/2026

As the Health Committee commence with the To***co Control Bill clause-by-clause deliberations, we call for the committee to resist attempts to water down the Bill. The evidence-based provisions currently in the Bill are a critical tool in advancing public health for all of SA.
Parliament of the Republic of South Africa

09/08/2026

Happy Womens Day!
Today, we celebrate the strength, resilience and leadership of women everywhere. As we honour women and girls, let's also protect them from the harms of to***co and ni****ne addiction. Every woman deserves the opportunity to live a healthy, smoke-free life. Together, let's create a future where every girl can thrive free from the influence of the to***co industry.

07/08/2026

Around the world, governments are standing up to to***co industry interference. Their actions are protecting youth and saving lives.