Higher Cigarette Price Will Deter Smoking Among Youth
New studies show that two out of five Filipino teens, from ages 13 to 15 years old, already engage in tobacco consumption...
By ANGELO G. GARCIA
March 20, 2012, 10:51am
MANILA, Philippines — It’s confirmed! The Global Youth Tobacco Surveys, conducted in the Philippines in 2003 and 2007, say there is a significant increase in the number of young smokers in the country.
In 2003, 19.6 percent of teenagers from ages 13 to 15 years old consumed tobacco. This is 1.07 million out of the 5.46 million of that population according to the National Statistics Office.
In 2007 27.3 percent of the population in the same age group consumed tobacco, 1.56 million out of the 5.72 million young population.
In the 2011 survey, the National Youth Commission (NYC) estimated that among 5.89 million, 2.3 million or a 39.2 percent increase among kids of the same age group consumed tobacco. Simply, two out of five of these teenagers smoke cigarettes.
“Nakakabahala ang datos na ‘to. Kailangan namin ng tulong para mailabas ang impormasyon na ‘to. Two out of five sa mga kabataan ngayon ang naninigarilyo edad 13 hanggang 15. Nakakabahala kasi alam natin na may masamang naidudulot sa kalusugan ang paninigarilyo,” laments NYC chairperson Leon Flores III.
They also reveal that the Philippines has one of the highest incidence of young smokers in the world. Male Filipinos are ranked at No.9 in the world, while female Filipinos are ranked at No. 16.
Cigarette consumption in the Philippines has also increased with the Department of Finance estimates that almost 5.3 million cigarette packs were sold in the country in 2011, which was the highest volume of cigarette packs sold in a year since 1993.
SMOKING IS NOT COOL
NYC believes that one of the reasons why there is an increase in consumption of tobacco among the youth is because cigarette smoking is perceived as “cool”. NYC wants to show the young generation that it is not cool to smoke especially if one knows the repercussions of this risky activity. What’s more alarming now is that the prime market of tobacco industry is the youth sector.
“Sa paglipas ng panahon, ang paninigarilyo ay isang ‘cool’ na gawain. I think we have not been successful in spreading the words about the ill effects of smoking among the youth,” shares NYC commissioner Perci Cedaña. “We’re planning to step up the education campaign on tobacco intake because we saw that our old methods are not anymore effective. Gusto naming baguhin ang paniniwala na okay ang paninigarilyo. We have to tap on the youth psyche that it is not cool to smoke.”
This leads to the fact that there’s not enough information about the ill effects of smoking on one’s health. Dr. Imelda Mateo, a pulmonologist, says that people who start smoking young could have risks of lung diseases and other conditions.
“When they start young, there are significant effects on the health. Common illness are, chronic cough shortness of breath, etc. If the kid has an existing condition like asthma or history of allergic rhinitis, smoking only aggravates their condition,” Dr. Mateo explains.
Starting early and not stopping lead to a more permanent damage and even life-threatening diseases like lung cancer. Young people who smoke can cause their immune systems to weaken and their bodies can be easily infected by viruses. The doctor says that it will not only affect the lungs but other organ systems as well. Studies have proven that some cancers like those that occur in the urinary bladder are closely associated with cigarette smoking.
“There will be permanent damage particularly in the lungs. This is not only permanent but progressive. It depletes the intake and storage of oxygen in the lungs for consumption from the different organ systems of the body. The other organs are not exempt from the carcinogens. There are cancers that are distant from the lungs but are directly associated with smoking,” Dr. Mateo says.
More importantly, smokers need to think of the people around them because second hand smoke adversely affects other people. A new phenomenon, called third hand smoking, pertains to the ability of nicotine residue to stick to nitric acid of the ambient air and form a compound that settles on surfaces and even on a smoker’s skin. This compound, which is called tobacco-specific nitrosamines, is toxic and is more dangerous than actual smoking and second hand smoking.
“What’s bad about it is it accumulates over time, it cannot be easily eliminated by wiping or washing it by soap. It stays there overtime and makes it more toxic and makes it more carcinogenic,” she explains.
INCREASE THE EXCISE TAX
NYC believes that in order to stop the young people, or at least lessen the young consumers of tobacco, the excise tax on tobacco products must be increased.
“Napaka halagang usapin ang cost ng sigarilyo. If the cost is cheap, it is easily accessible even among young people who have limited income. Itong mga batang 13 to 15 years old, sa parents pa humihingi ng pambili,” Cedaña shares.
The Philippines actually is one of the countries in Asia that has the cheapest prices of tobacco products. NYC also reveals a study that although taxes on tobacco products have increase before, the price of cigarettes have actually decreased from 2000 to 2010. According to the Action for Economic Reforms study, the real price level of cigarettes in the country decreased by18 percent.
“NYC is in full support on the pending legislation in congress to increase the excise tax on tobacco products. We believe that other than the absolute ban of selling of cigarettes to minors, other than regulating retailing, the excise tax should be increased,” Cedaña says.
There’s a pending House Bill No. 5727, which plans to restructure the sin tax on alcohol and tobacco products. This bill, which is authored by Cavite representative Joseph Emilio Abaya, will replace the four-tier system on alcohol and cigarette to a unitary system. So the tax for the more expensive brands to the cheapest brands will have the same increase.
NYC explains that studies have proven that increasing the price of cigarettes will stop most teenagers from smoking. University of the Philippines also did a research and among the students that were surveyed, 60 percent of them will stop smoking if a stick of cigarette is priced at R5 because it takes away a significant amount from their allowances.
NYC is looking at taking advantage of the online platform to rally support from young people and push legislators to increase the excise tax.
However, Dr. Mateo reminds that they are not taking away the rights of each citizen the freedom to choose whatever they want. They want the kids to choose not to smoke not just because it is expensive but because of the harmful effects it can cause.
“We do not prohibit them but make them aware. We want them to voluntarily choose what to do. Kasi ang nature ng tao, habang pinipigilan mas lalong ginagawa. We want teenagers to decide for themselves and let them be independent decision makers,” Dr. Mateo stresses.
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