October 2019

In the Philippines, one out of five electronic cigarette users are children and adolescents aged 10-19 years old. This is three times higher than the proportion of traditional cigarette users among the same age group (2018 National Nutrition Survey).

A New England Journal of Medicine Letter to the Editor titled “Trends in Adolescent Vaping, 2017-2019” cites a study showing that vaping prevalence among 12th, 10th, and 8th-grade students more than doubled from 2017-2019 (Miech, Johnston, O’Malley, Bachman, Patrick, 2019).

Contrary to claims, there is no evidence that heated tobacco products are “less harmful” than traditional cigarettes. Heated tobacco products and e-cigarettes contain nicotine — a highly addictive substance — toxic chemicals, and flavored non-tobacco additives.

Children and adolescents have the right to be informed about scientific and independent evidence about these products that are marketed using a variety of flavors and colorful packaging designs associating the items to a “young, vibrant, and fashionable lifestyle.”

Article 17 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) states that children should be provided with information and materials that promote their social, spiritual, and moral well-being, physical health, and mental health.

In October 2019, As the Senate of the Philippines held hearings on the proposed bills to increase the tax on alcohol products and impose a tax on electronic cigarettes and heated tobacco products, CRC Asia and MAGCRP submitted a Position Paper to the Senate Committee on Ways and Means and the Offices of Philippine Senators.
Download the position paper here.

#VapingIsNOTCool #RaiseSinTaxesforUHC #SinTax4Health #RaiseSinTaxesforHealth