Tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship promotes tobacco consumption and discourages cessation. The World Health Organization’s MPOWER technical package on tobacco control and the international treaty, the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, recommend banning tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship. In India, Section 5 of the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act prohibits all direct and indirect advertisement of tobacco products, including activity that promotes the use of tobacco products or their trademark or brand name.

Despite this, tobacco marketing continues to be widespread globally and in India, particularly in online forums that are less regulated.i,ii,iii Vital Strategies launched the Tobacco Enforcement and Reporting Movement (TERM) in June 2019 to monitor tobacco marketing activities.1 This situation report is part of a monthly series that summarizes observed examples of online tobacco marketing in India. It covers the period Oct. 16 to Nov. 15, 2020.