According to a recent study conducted by the International Global Tobacco Control Research Institute (IGTC), it has been found that despite Philippine regulations prohibiting the sale, display, advertising, and promotion of tobacco products within a 100-meter radius of schools, these activities are still ongoing. The researchers have called for stricter enforcement of existing laws and a comprehensive ban on tobacco advertising and displays nationwide.
The study simultaneously monitored the sales and marketing of tobacco, e-cigarettes, and heated tobacco products in 6,617 retail locations within 200 meters of 353 schools in nine cities or regions from December 2022 to January 2023. The results revealed that within 100 meters of most schools, there were 2,070 cigarette retailers, 43 e-cigarette retailers, and 33 retailers selling heated tobacco products.
Among the surveyed 1,011 tobacco retailers, it was observed that 98% of them sell cigarettes individually. Additionally, tobacco advertisements, including graphical printed signs and posters, were found to be highly prevalent both outdoors and indoors across all types of retailers.
A study has also found that despite policies explicitly prohibiting the sale to individuals under the age of 21, only 11% of cigarette retailers, 4% of e-cigarette retailers, and 48% of HTP retailers have clear visible signage. Flavored tobacco and nicotine products are also very common among retailers, including 90% of cigarette retailers and 98% of e-cigarette retailers.
The scientist Jennifer Brown from IGTC stated that strengthening the existing policy that prohibits the sale and advertising of tobacco products within a 100-meter radius of schools, along with the implementation of a nationwide comprehensive ban on tobacco advertising, promotions, and sponsorships, can safeguard the health of Filipino youth and reduce the death and disease rates caused by tobacco consumption in the Philippines.
According to the International Global Tobacco Control (IGTC), the implementation of a comprehensive ban on tobacco advertising, promotion, and sponsorship is one of the most effective methods for countries to reduce tobacco demand, increase influence, and alleviate economic burdens.
Disclaimer
This article is provided solely for professional research, industry discussion, and informational purposes. Any references to brands, companies, products, technologies, or policies are made for factual reporting and analytical purposes only, and do not constitute endorsement, recommendation, promotion, or advertising by 2Firsts.
Nicotine-containing products, including but not limited to cigarettes, e-cigarettes, heated tobacco products, and nicotine pouches, carry significant health risks. Readers are responsible for complying with all applicable laws and regulations in their respective jurisdictions, including age restrictions and access limitations.
The information contained in this article should not be regarded as investment, legal, medical, regulatory, or commercial advice. While 2Firsts strives to ensure the accuracy and reliability of its content, it does not assume liability for any direct or indirect loss arising from errors, omissions, inaccuracies, or reliance on the information contained herein.
This article is not intended for individuals below the legal age for accessing tobacco or nicotine-related information in their jurisdiction.
Copyright Notice
This article is either original content produced by 2Firsts or content reproduced, translated, summarized, or adapted from third-party sources with attribution where applicable. The intellectual property rights of the original content remain with 2Firsts or the respective original rights holders.
No individual or organization may copy, reproduce, distribute, republish, modify, translate, or otherwise use this content without prior authorization. Any unauthorized use may result in legal action.
For copyright-related inquiries, corrections, or removal requests, please contact: info@2firsts.com.
AI-Assisted Translation and Editing Notice
Portions of this article may have been translated, edited, or reviewed with the assistance of artificial intelligence tools to improve efficiency and readability. Due to the limitations of AI-assisted translation and editing, discrepancies, omissions, or inaccuracies may exist when compared with the original source.
Where applicable, readers are advised to refer to the original source for the most complete and accurate information. If you identify any errors or believe that any content infringes upon your rights, please contact us at info@2firsts.com, and we will review and address the matter promptly.
