Health professionals and advocacy groups are calling on election candidates to take immediate action to address what they describe as a growing “epidemic” of cigarette, vape, and alcohol consumption among Filipino youth.
Dr. Hector Santos, president of the Philippine Medical Association (PMA), emphasized that the increasing use of these harmful substances among young people has reached epidemic proportions. “This is a full-blown epidemic that demands immediate attention from our leaders,” Dr. Santos stated. “We urge candidates to take a firm stance in support of our parents and youth, so we don’t leave future generations facing preventable deaths and diseases.”
According to the Action for Economic Reforms (AER), a public policy think tank, the consumption rates of tobacco, vape, and alcohol have significantly increased from 2021 to 2023, as evidenced by the latest National Nutrition Survey. This surge in use represents a troubling rise in the number of young Filipinos using these products.
In 2023, the Philippines recorded a total of 89,000 tobacco-related deaths and at least 27,000 deaths linked to alcohol consumption each year. “Every day we fail to act, another Filipino family loses a loved one while the tobacco, vape, and alcohol industries continue to profit,” Dr. Santos remarked. “We are frustrated by the lack of response from policymakers to the devastating health impacts these substances are having on our youth.”
Experts attribute the rise in consumption to “aggressive marketing and weak regulations” surrounding cigarettes, vapes, and alcoholic beverages. AER project officer AJ Montesa highlighted that increasing taxes on these products has proven effective in curbing consumption. “Between 2009 and 2021, we saw a significant reduction in tobacco use due to higher taxes,” Montesa noted at the End the Epidemic on Yosi, Vape, at Alak Among Youth media forum in Quezon City.
In 2020, the Philippine government raised the tax rate on cigarettes from P37.50 to P45 per pack. Additionally, the tax on heated tobacco products increased by 5% in 2024, with plans for further annual hikes. Despite these measures, Montesa pointed out that the Philippines still has some of the cheapest alcohol and tobacco products in the world, making them easily accessible to the youth. “A bottle of gin costs less than a fast food value meal,” he said. “These products are too affordable and widely available.”
Montesa emphasized that alongside tax hikes, stronger regulations are necessary to reduce the harm caused by these substances. “Taxes alone are not enough. Regulations must ensure these products are kept out of reach of young people, stop aggressive marketing tactics, and limit their accessibility,” he added.
Dr. Riz Gonzales, chair of the Philippine Pediatric Society’s Tobacco Control advocacy, expressed concern about the tactics used by the industry to target the next generation. “Flavored vapes, social media promotions, and cheap alcohol are all designed to hook young people,” she said. “Without urgent government intervention, this crisis will spiral out of control.”
Dr. RJ Naguit, a representative of the Philippine Society of Public Health Physicians, echoed the call for action. “Candidates must take a decisive stand and push for higher taxes on tobacco, vapes, and alcohol,” Naguit urged. “We must prioritize the well-being of our people over corporate profits. If our leaders fail to act, they are leaving our youth vulnerable to an industry that is intentionally targeting them.”
As the election season unfolds, health experts and advocates continue to press for stronger policies to combat the rising epidemic of substance abuse among the youth, with the hope that political candidates will prioritize public health over the interests of the tobacco, vape, and alcohol industries.
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