The Manila Times
OVER 6,000 young people demanded that the government immediately ban vapes and e-cigarettes for the World No Tobacco Day celebration on May 31. During the "Pilipinas, TobaccOFF NOW!" celebration, youth advocates highlighted the adverse effects of vapes among the youth through various activities, including learning sessions, a panel discussion, fun runs, boot camps, and theater plays. "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. According to the Institute for Global Tobacco Control and the National Library of Medicine, approximately 1.21 million Filipino youth currently use e-cigarettes, noting that previous studies have shown that e-cigarette use significantly increases the likelihood of transitioning to conventional cigarette smoking, particularly among nonsmoking youth. In a separate statement, the World Health Organization (WHO) has also highlighted the dangers of flavored and attractively packaged nicotine products, which are often marketed to young people. The WHO said that this year’s theme for World No Tobacco Day is “Unmask the appeal – countering tobacco and nicotine addiction,” which aims to expose how the tobacco and nicotine industry continues to adapt its products and tactics to attract and retain users, particularly children and adolescents. "Pilipinas, TobaccOFF NOW!" is part of the broader global anti-nicotine campaign F* Nicotine, which operates in countries like Brazil, Indonesia, Mexico, and the US. The campaign exposes how the tobacco and vape industry targets youth through appealing packaging and flavors, fostering lifelong addiction. In the Philippines, the movement has localized this approach, rallying young people to demand immediate government action. The campaign began on May 23 in Barangay Batasan Hills, Quezon City, where over 250 young advocates, alongside partners like the Department of Health, Quezon City LGU, ImagineLaw, and HealthJustice, came together to amplify their message. "This is just the beginning of a larger movement that will continue to grow until our demands are met," Tanchuan said, expressing optimism that the movement will translate into policy change.
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