Sale of tobacco and nicotine products and advertising of regulated products persist near schools in the Philippines, despite the 100-meter prohibition of these activities, according to a study released by the Institute for Global Tobacco Control (IGTC) at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.
“Stricter enforcement of existing policies prohibiting sales and advertising of tobacco products within 100 meters of schools and implementation of a national comprehensive policy on tobacco advertising, promotion, and sponsorship can protect the well-being of Filipino youth and reduce the rate of tobacco-caused death and disease in the Philippines,” said Jennifer Brown, a scientist from the Institute for Global Tobacco Control at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Health.
The study monitored the sale and marketing of cigarettes, e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products (HTPs) at 6,617 retailers within 200 meters of 353 schools in urban and rural areas of nine Filipino cities/regions from December 2022 to January 2023.
It said that in violation of Philippine law, 2,070 cigarette, 43 e-cigarette and 33 HTP retail locations were observed within 100 meters of the majority of schools.
Tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship targeting youth at points of sale are common tobacco industry tactics that can lead to youth tobacco initiation and reinforce use among those who currently use these products, the study said.
Findings also show that despite policies requiring signage indicating that sales are prohibited to people under 21 years of age, only 11 percent of cigarette retailers, 4 percent of e-cigarette retailers and 48 percent of HTP retailers had the requisite signage visible.
About 98 percent of cigarette retailers sold single stick cigarettes, and indoor and outdoor advertising were common across all retailer types.
Flavored tobacco and nicotine products were also commonly available across retailers, including 90 percent of cigarette retailers and 98 percent of e-cigarette and HTP retailers.
According to the Global Adult Tobacco Survey, 1 in 5 Filipinos aged 15 years and older is already into smoking tobacco. =
The Global Youth Tobacco Survey shows that, among youth aged 13 to 15, 11 percent smoke tobacco products and 14 percent use e-cigarettes, while 77 percent of those who smoke bought products from stores, kiosks, or street vendors, contrary to laws prohibiting sales to youth.
The study noted that the imposition of a comprehensive ban on tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship is one of the most cost-effective ways countries can reduce demand for tobacco.
