THE United Nations Interagency Task Force on the Prevention and Control of Non Communicable Diseases (UNIATF NCDs) has recommended to the Philippines to increase to 21 years old the minimum age for purchasing tobacco products to somehow reduce the risk of having smoking-related diseases if started smoking young.
Currently, the minimum age for those who can buy tobacco products like cigarettes is set at 18 or the age of majority in the country. This means that those below 18 are considered as minors and are not allowed to purchase products such as cigarettes. Retailers, convenience stores or sari-sari stores are on the other hand, prohibited from selling such to minors and there is a certain penalty for the said violation.
Even if there is a law that sets the minimum age for cigarette buyers, we can see some minors being sold with some sticks with some even packs in some sari-sari stores. Sellers may not be aware of the minimum age or are just too keen to sell their products in the name of profit. There is no implementation of the law anyway in many cases.
In addition, the UN body also suggested the selling of cigarettes by stick as it was observed that smoking prevalence is high among the low-income who can purchase sticks as a form of retail. Remember the "takatak boys" who sell cigarettes on streets with their fabricated handheld cigarette pack holders?
These vendors sell sticks of cigarettes to anyone regardless of the age of their buyers. They can be seen usually on streets to motorists and to anyone who can be attracted or drawn attention to the "takatak". Indiscriminate selling of cigarettes although prohibited by law, is still prevalent due to the lax implementation of the regulation in terms of the age of buyers.
The UN body has also noted that due to smoking among with binge drinking, unhealthy diet and the lack of physical activity, the number smoking-related diseases is rising.
Recently, a study was conducted whether the increase in the cost of tobacco products due to imposition of taxes by the government has discouraged Filipinos to smoke. It can be noted that the government is imposing "sin taxes" by tranches and has skyrocketed the prices of cigarettes and alcoholic drinks in the recent years.
Despite the regular price increase if cigarettes, Filipinos still find ways of buying and sticking to the vice. Many have resorted to buying cigarettes in sticks so it is much cheaper than buying by packs. Others meanwhile have resorted to cheaper brands of smoke that is more affordable for them. The study has proven that the price increase of tobacco products failed to decrease the number of smokers.
The government, along line with its increase in taxes of tobacco products, should also intensify its smoking cessation program including its education and awareness-setting on of ill effects of tobacco smoking. Massive campaign should be resorted to finally significantly lessen if not eradicate the number of smokers in the country.
If only the government is much more serious in keeping healthy the Filipinos, there are many measures including regulatory activities that shall lessen the addiction to smoking.
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Trivia: American Robert Norris, the original "Marlboro Man" has died in his Colorado ranch. He is the true-blue cowboy in the Marlboro advertisements in billboards and magazines. He was 90 years old and he never smoked in his entire life.
Advertisements sometimes deceive their target audiences.
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