Youth in peril for alcohol, tobacco, and vaping
The Philippines is facing a growing public health crisis: the alarming rise in alcohol, tobacco, and vape use among our youth. This troubling trend has been collectively declared by medical organizations as a dire threat to the health and future of the nation. The Philippine Society of Public Health Physicians (PSPHP) is deeply concerned about the long-term consequences of this threat. Despite significant developments in tobacco control over the past two decades, recent trends indicate that our progress is being undermined by weak policy implementation and aggressive tactics of the tobacco and alcohol industry.
Our country has been a global leader in tobacco control, particularly through the implementation of sin taxes. The Sin Tax Law of 2012 has significantly reduced smoking rates among adults and adolescents while generating revenue for universal health care (UHC). The law, alongside our ratification of the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) in 2005, has positioned the Philippines as a model for effective tobacco control policies.
However, these gains are now under threat. Despite years of declining tobacco use, we are witnessing a resurgence in nicotine addiction among Filipino youth, driven by the proliferation of e-cigarettes, vapes, and heated tobacco products. According to the latest Global Youth Tobacco Survey, approximately one out of every seven Filipino teenagers aged 13 to 15 is now using vapes. This represents a staggering increase from 37,513 young vape users in 2021 to 423,185 in 2023. These numbers are not just statistics—they represent a generation at risk of lifelong addiction and preventable diseases.
The tobacco and nicotine industry has been relentless in its efforts to target young people through aggressive marketing, flavored products, and misleading claims about harm reduction. Their tactics are designed to create a false sense of safety and desirability, preying on the vulnerability of our youth. This interference extends beyond marketing and includes attempts to weaken tobacco control policies, such as House Bill No. 11360, which proposes reducing the annual 5 percent tax increase on tobacco products. If passed, this legislation would make cigarettes, vapes, and other tobacco products more affordable and accessible to young people, undoing years of progress and jeopardizing the health of millions of Filipinos.
The consequences of this epidemic are dire. Tobacco use is a leading cause of noncommunicable diseases such as lung cancer, heart disease, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Alarmingly, these illnesses are no longer confined to older adults. We are now seeing teenagers as young as 16 hospitalized or even dying from vape-induced lung injuries. The economic burden is equally concerning, as treating tobacco-related diseases places a significant strain on our already overstretched health care system.
The PSPHP strongly condemns any attempts to weaken tobacco control policies, including HB 11360. We call on our legislators to prioritize the health of the Filipino people over the profits of the tobacco and nicotine industry. Specifically, we urge the following actions:
1. Strengthen sin tax policies: Sin taxes are a proven, evidence-based strategy to reduce tobacco and alcohol consumption. We support the continued taxation of all tobacco products, including vapes and heated tobacco, as well as alcohol. These taxes not only discourage use but also provide funding for universal health care.
2. Reject industry interference: Policymakers must reject all forms of industry interference, including programs disguised as harm reduction.
3. Enforce existing laws: The implementation of existing tobacco control laws must be strengthened. This includes stricter enforcement of age restrictions, banning flavored vapes, and regulating the marketing and sale of tobacco products.
4. Empower the youth: Schools, communities, and health care providers must work together to educate young people about the dangers of tobacco and nicotine use.
5. Support UHC: The revenue generated from sin taxes is vital for financing UHC. By protecting and expanding these taxes, we can ensure that all Filipinos, especially the most vulnerable, have access to quality health care.
The fight against tobacco, vaping, and alcohol use is not just a public health issue—it is a moral imperative. The PSPHP stands in solidarity with health advocates, medical societies, parent groups, and civil society in demanding a tobacco-free Philippines.
To our legislators, candidates, and leaders: the choice is clear. Will you stand with the Filipino people, or will you side with an industry that profits from addiction and suffering? The health of our nation depends on your decision.
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Dr. Anthony Rosendo “Tonyboy” Faraon is deputy executive director of the Zuellig Family Foundation and chair of the Philippine Society of Public Health Physicians.
