The Perfect Storm: Applying the Multiple Streams Framework to Understand the Adoption of a WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control-Based Policy in Mexico.

Background: The aim of this study was to document how Mexico adopted a WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC)-based national tobacco control law.

Methods: We analyzed publicly available documents and interviewed 14 key stakeholders. We applied the Multiple Streams Framework (MSF) to analyze these findings.

Towards a smoke-free world? South America became the first 100% smoke-free subregion in the Americas.

Almost 20 years after the launching by the Pan American Health Organization of its "Smoke-Free Americas" initiative in 2001, in December 2020, South America became the first subregion in the Americas to accomplish 100% smoke-free environments in line with Article 8 of the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC). Some of these countries adopted legal measures that are more robust than others, including in their laws specific outdoor places in the smoking ban (like Argentina and Uruguay) and/or novel nicotine and tobacco products under their scope (like Ecuador and Paraguay). The 10 countries took different paths to adopt this public health measure, either through executive or legislative measures or a combination of both.

Progress in adopting bans on tobacco advertising, promotion, and sponsorship in the Americas: lessons from Uruguay and Argentina.

Objective: To assess progress in and barriers to implementing bans on tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship (TAPS) in Uruguay, which has a complete ban, and Argentina, with a partial ban.

Methods: Legislation on TAPS bans in Uruguay and Argentina was reviewed and relevant published literature, news stories, civil society reports and tobacco industry reports retrieved to analyze progress in implementing TAPS bans.

Results: In Uruguay, the complete TAPS ban, which includes standardized tobacco packaging, maintains high compliance and severely limits exposure of TAPS, despite a few problems with corporate social responsibility, social media, and transnational advertising.

Nutritional quality, child-oriented marketing and health/nutrition claims on sweet biscuit, breakfast cereal and dairy-based dessert packs in Argentina.

As children are particularly vulnerable to marketing, this study analyzes marketing techniques and health/nutrition claims in food packaging and evaluates the nutritional quality in three food categories: sweet biscuits, breakfast cereals and dairy-based desserts. This descriptive study analyzed marketing techniques and claims included in food packaging (n = 301) in one of the largest retailers in Argentina. Trained researchers coded data following an adapted version of the INFORMAS protocol to account for local food packaging regulations.

[New strides in tobacco taxation: the case of ArgentinaAvanços na tributação dos cigarros: o caso da Argentina].

In May 2016, the executive branch of the Government of Argentina ratified Decree 626, which raised domestic taxes on cigarettes from 60% to 75%, amounting to a 50% increase in their average retail price. This measure was promoted by Argentina's InterAmerican Heart Foundation (FIC Argentina) through a strategy that included conducting local research to assess the measure's viability and impact; drafting a policy proposal; working in coordination with other national and international civil society organizations; pursuing collaborative incidence activities with key members of the national executive branch; and implementing a communications strategy. The uniqueness of each economic, social, political, and institutional context in the countries of the Region of the Americas makes it necessary to adapt policy to local conditions.

[Mothers and food advertising directed at children: perceptions and experiences].

The objective of this study is to analyze how food advertising is perceived by mothers from different socioeconomic sectors of the Metropolitan Area of Buenos Aires, Argentina. Between May and November 2015, eight focus groups were conducted with the participation of 49 mothers of different education levels living in the study area. The results show how the purchasing decisions of mothers are influenced by the requests of their children, which are in turn prompted by food advertising and promotion.