Herbosa urges PNP to ensure minors don’t have access to vape

Health Secretary Ted Herbosa on Tuesday said he has asked the Philippine National Police (PNP) to make sure that underage individuals do not have access to e-cigarettes or vapes. 

At a press conference, Herbosa raised concern about the rising use of vape among the youth, stressing the health risks that nicotine poses to people, whether it is through tobacco or e-cigarette.

“Bumaba ang ating tobacco use from 29.7% in 2009…to 19%. Dahil siguro sa sin tax sa tobacco. Ang tobacco sa youth bumaba din from 22% in 2007 naging 12% na lang in 2019. Ang problema, ang tumataas ang e-cigarette. Dati wala ito, ngayon 14% ang youth,” he said. 

(Our tobacco use decreased from 29.7% in 2009 to 19%. Maybe because of the sin tax on tobacco. Tobacco use among youth also decreased from 22% in 2007 to only 12% in 2019. The problem is that the use of e-cigarettes is increasing. There used to be none, but now it’s at 14% among the youth.) 

The Health secretary said only those 18 years old and above are allowed to use vape under the law. However, he lamented that vapes are now openly being sold even to minors in various areas. 

Due to this, Herbosa said he wrote a letter to the PNP to ask for help. He also underscored the role of parents in preventing their children from using vape. 

“I actually wrote a letter to the PNP asking them to implement the law and make sure none of these minors should have access to vaping,” he said. 

“We need stronger implementation at ang DOH magre-remind [and the DOH will continue to remind], but I hope the police, vendors, stores will strictly implement no sales to minors of its vape products,” he added.

In May 2023, the PNP said it will go after minors who are smoking and vaping outside the school. The PNP said they will confiscate the vape if the children are hard-headed and have to be repeatedly reminded.

The World Health Organization (WHO) had also urged governments to treat e-cigarettes similar to tobacco and ban all its flavors, noting that more 13- to 15-year-olds are using vapes than adults in all WHO regions due to aggressive marketing.—AOL, GMA Integrated News