Key Takeaways
- The Philippine Tobacco Control Coalition said it supports raising the legal age restriction for vape and tobacco products from 18 to 25.
- The coalition said the brain of a young person continues to develop until the mid-20s and nicotine exposure during that period can lead to lasting impairments.
- The group echoed Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa’s warning that vaping is a public health threat requiring immediate legislative action.
- The coalition said the Philippines has recorded its first e-cigarette- or vape product-associated death, involving a 22-year-old. • The coalition reiterated its call for a total ban on vapes, cigarettes, and other tobacco products, and urged the government to implement maximum tobacco taxes.
2Firsts, March 11, 2026
According to Newsinfo, a coalition of health and child rights advocates in the Philippines backed Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa’s call to raise the age restriction for vape and tobacco products to 25.
The Philippine Tobacco Control Coalition said in a statement, “We strongly support increasing the legal age restriction for vape and tobacco products from 18 to 25.”
The group cited scientific evidence showing that the brain of a young person “continues to develop until the mid-20s.”
It said, “Nicotine exposure during this period can lead to lasting impairments in impulse control, learning, and mood regulation.”
The coalition is composed of the Southeast Asia Tobacco Control Alliance, TobaccOFF NOW! Movement, the Philippine Legislators’ Committee on Population and Development, Child Rights Network, Action for Economic Reforms, ImagineLaw, the Philippine Smoke-Free Movement, HealthJustice Philippines, Parents Against Vape, and Transcend. The group echoed Herbosa’s warning that “vaping is a public health threat that demands immediate legislative action.”
It urged Congress to “prioritize the health and safety of our youth over industry profits,” noting that the Philippines has recorded its first e-cigarette- or vape product-associated death, involving a 22-year-old.
Based on the latest data, the coalition said one in seven Filipino students are vaping, and that legislation should “reflect the gravity of the health crisis at hand.”
It said, “We remain consistent in our call for a total ban on vapes, cigarettes, and other tobacco products, including heated tobacco products and nicotine pouches.”
For now, it called on the government to implement maximum tobacco taxes.
The coalition said, “Higher taxes are a proven deterrent for youth consumption and provide necessary revenue to support Universal Health Care.” It also said, “The industry’s claim that high taxes drive smuggling is a myth; the real culprit is weak enforcement. This narrative only serves to protect a product that kills thousands.”
Image Source: Newsinfo
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