As the presence of e-cigarettes became rampant in the Philippines, the government was alarmed by their possible effects on health and the environment, imposing a ban on the public market.
One of the cases that the local health department monitored was the rise of Filipino users when it came to e-cigarettes. In 2023, the Southeast Asia Tobacco Control Alliance recorded that the youth was the common market for e-cigarettes, as they were able to interview users aged from 14 to 17 years old who had already experienced smoking at the age of 10.
Moreover, a growth of 18.7% to its record in 2023 was estimated by an international market research and consulting company, as Filipinos are bound by the knowledge that e-cigarettes are a healthy alternative compared to traditional cigarettes.
Finding these results as a warning to Filipinos, the Department of Health has backed up the proposal of banning disposable e-cigarettes or vaping to not only help address future health issues for its users but also help eradicate its negative effects on the environment.
Unlike other types of e-cigarettes, disposable vapes are cheaper because they are made out of plastic with batteries. As per its name, once the user consumes the said product, they can easily dispose of it. Hence, improper disposal of this device can negatively affect the environment due to its chemical elements, resulting in water and land pollution.
The ban on the said device is made stronger by the claim of the Department of Finance that most disposable vapes are not registered with the government, which makes it easier for the sellers to encourage the younger generation.
With its easy availability and consumption, it is then more appealing to young users, making them more vulnerable to serious illnesses at an early age, such as lung cancer and heart disease.
As of this writing, the government is still looking into the rules to be imposed on disposable vapes, as they are digging deeper into what needs to be adjusted to the rules for the sake of consumers and the environment.
