Youth group seeks ban on vapes, e-cigarettes

MANILA, Philippines — More than 6,000 young Filipinos joined online and on-ground activities for World No Tobacco Day, calling for an immediate ban on vapes and e-cigarettes and denouncing what they described as tobacco and vape industry interference.

The collective action was led by the TobaccOFF NOW! movement, whose youth advocates urged the government to protect their generation from lifelong tobacco and nicotine addiction.

The group said the growing popularity of vaping among minors underscored the need for stronger government intervention, citing what it described as continued marketing of nicotine products in ways that appeal to young consumers.

During the campaign, the movement launched the TobaccOFF NOW! youth manifesto, which calls for comprehensive measures to curb nicotine addiction among young people.

Aside from seeking an immediate ban on vapes and e-cigarettes, the manifesto urged lawmakers to strengthen enforcement against tobacco and vape advertising, prohibit youth-oriented product designs and flavorings, and prioritize public health over industry interests.

“Through Pilipinas, TobaccOFF NOW! and the broader F*Nicotine campaign, we, the youth, get to express our frustration about tobacco, vape, and other nicotine products taking over our lives and our health,” said Vonn Vincent Tanchuan, campaign lead of the TobaccOFF NOW! movement.

“We’ve been inspired by the youth sentiments online and in communities, reminding our government that we deserve better protection from the tobacco and vape industry. I know that our movement will just grow bigger and bigger until this is achieved,” he added.

Tanchuan said the campaign was driven by growing concerns over youth vaping rates.

Citing data from the Institute for Global Tobacco Control and the National Library of Medicine, the group said about 1.21 million Filipino youth currently use e-cigarettes. It added that vaping among teenagers aged 13 to 15, at 14.1 percent, has surpassed the smoking rate for regular cigarettes, at 12.5 percent.

“Our youth-led movement is urgently calling for an immediate ban on vapes and e-cigarettes because these harmful products serve as the starting point for our young people, encouraging them to eventually use cigarettes and other nicotine products,” said Jeannie Anne Maguad, executive director of the Positive Youth Development Network.

“This immediate action must be taken while simultaneously executing the other crucial demands in our TobaccOFF NOW! manifesto, including eliminating flavors, terminating packaging designs, and strongly enforcing advertising bans,” she added.

The movement conducted regional activities from May 20 to May 31, culminating in a gathering in Barangay Batasan Hills, Quezon City, that brought together more than 250 young people and partners, including the Department of Health and the Quezon City local government. /dm