Tobacco ads ban starts today

Starting today, all forms of advertising on tobacco products are prohibited, as mandated by Republic Act 9211, the Tobacco Regulation Act of 2003.

Section 22 of this law states: "Beginning 1 July 2008, all forms of tobacco advertising in mass media shall be prohibited, except tobacco advertisements placed inside the premises of point-of- sale establishments."

In January, 2007, the law mandated a total ban on tobacco advertising on TV, cable TV, and radio. In July of the same year, it prohibited all cinema and outdoor advertising of cigarettes, including the distribution or posting of leaflets, posters, and other outdoor advertising materials, except inside the places where cigarettes are sold.

Local tobacco control advocates are pressing for the compliance of cigarette manufacturers, store owners, and local government officials in enforcing the law.

The Department of Health (DoH) and the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control Alliance of the Philippines (FCAP) have become especially vigilant against stores with tobacco products signages that do not comply with the law.

Health authorities had earlier sounded the alarm on the rising number of Filipino smokers aged 13 to 15 as shown in the Global Youth Tobacco Survey (GYTS), a worldwide survey commissioned by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the US.

The GYTS revealed that in the Philippines, about four million youths — 2.8 million boys and 1.2 million girls aged 13 to 15 — are cigarette patrons. Out of the 4 million young smokers, half are also exposed to second-hand smoke in their homes.

The prevalence of young smokers in the Philippines decreased slightly from 19 percent in 2003 to 17 percent in 2007.

But Dr. Yolanda Oliveros, National Center for Disease Prevention and Control (NCDPC) director, said the authorities will continue to wage the battle against smoking until more youths are discouraged from cigarette smoking, said to be among causes of many fatal diseases.

"I ask the youth not to start smoking and not to attempt to start smoking because it will be very hard to quit," she said.

"Tobacco is the leading preventable cause of death in the world. It is the only legal consumer product that kills one third to one half of those who use it as intended by its manufacturers, with its victims dying on an average of 15 years prematurely," WHO representative to the Philippines Dr. Soe NyuntU said during the recent World No Tobacco Day celebration in Manila.

Tobacco control advocates are also batting for legislation that will implement the use of picturebased health warnings on cigarette packages.

In Thailand, graphic health warnings were implemented in 2005. Consequently, a survey was done on its effect to smokers and 80 percent of 2,000 Thai smokers surveyed said the pictures of diseases linked to tobacco on cigarette packages were effective in informing them of the dangers of smoking. The respondents said the pictures are more effective than text warnings.

Tobacco control advocate Roberto del Rosario warned the youth against cigarette advertisements.

"If you notice, print advertisements tell about a very enjoyable lifestyle, people having fun, when, in fact, the tobacco industry is aware that tobacco smoke causes life-agonizing ailments like emphysema, lung cancer, etc. Are these enjoyable and is this a true symbol of a very pleasant lifestyle? It is sad that the tobacco industry is looking for replacement smokers for those who have already died."

DoH records indicate that five of the top 10 causes of deaths in the Philippines are linked to cigarettes, including cancers and respiratory diseases.

Over 75,000 Filipinos die of tobacco-related diseases every year, health authorities say.