[Neighbors] We can’t prevent youth vaping when nicotine is in your face
A media officer argues that digital nicotine marketing makes it impossible to prevent youth vaping.Summary
Cyresse Ann Achilleos, a media and communications officer for the Southeast Asia Tobacco Control Alliance (SEATCA), argues that the tobacco industry has successfully shifted its marketing strategies to digital spaces, making it nearly impossible to prevent youth vaping. She notes that young people carry "billboards in their pockets" and that a generation shaped by algorithms cannot simply outscroll nicotine marketing. Achilleos shares a personal experience where she almost purchased a vape after seeing it in a store, highlighting how quickly exposure can influence behavior. She points out that studies show daily social media users are more likely to initiate tobacco use, and that the Philippines' current laws, such as Republic Act 11900, have loopholes that allow online advertising and sales to minors. Achilleos calls for a comprehensive ban on all forms of tobacco advertising, promotion, and sponsorship (TAPS) in line with the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, including eliminating point-of-sale displays and penalizing influencers who promote nicotine use.
(Source：Rappler)
