Pulse Asia (PA) Research recently released the September 2021 Ulat ng Bayan survey that included questions regarding people’s consumption of vape and e-cigarette products and their attitude towards public policy covering these novel products.
The consolidated Pulse Asia Research survey of 2,400 respondents organized field interviews that were conducted from September 6 to 11, 2021. The survey results covered the following:
Vaping habits.
Position towards e-cigarette or vape-free policy in public places.
Position towards a policy that restricts age accessibility to e-cigarettes or vapes at 21 years old and above.
Position for a proposed bill that will ban the availability and accessibility of e-cigarette or vape flavors that appeal to children and youth.
Health effect of e-cigarettes/vapes on users.
The PA data for the September 2021 vaping habits summary report indicate that only 4% of Filipinos are vape/e-cigarette users while 96% of the population are in no circumstance vape/e-cigarette users.
The PA survey similarly captures the percentage of acceptance rate on the e-cigarette-free and vapes-free policy in public places. The result: 74% of the respondents support the said policy, and only 13% of the population disagree.
Furthermore, 70% of the total interviewed support the policy that restricts age accessibility to e- cigarettes and vapes at 21 years old and above. Only 15% disagree.
On the proposed bill that will ban the availability and accessibility of e-cigarette or vape flavors that appeal to children and youth like cotton candy and fruit flavors, 62% of respondents support the bill, and only 20% are opposed.
On the effect on health of e-cigarettes / vapes users, 77% of those interviewed identify smoking of e-cigarettes and vapes as a serious health hazard, as against 15% who say that smoking of e-cigarettes and vapes is a minor health hazard, and only 2% who think smoking of e-cigarettes and vapes is not a health hazard.
Lastly, we elaborate on the results that show the decisive majority of the users of vape and e-cigarette products also support stricter regulations and consider the harmful side effects of the products. To illustrate: 76% of vape/e-cigarette users support the e-cigarette and vapes-free policy in public places. 85% of vape/e-cigarette users support the policy that restricts age accessibility to e-cigarettes and vapes at 21 years old and above. 66% of vape/e-cigarette users support the proposed bill that will ban the availability and accessibility of e-cigarette or vape flavors that appeal to children and youth like cotton candy and fruit flavors. 70% of vape/e-cigarette users consider the effect of e-cigarettes / vapes on health as a serious health hazard.
The results are clear. The overwhelming majority of the people, more so the smokers of vape and e-cigarettes themselves, identify vape and e-cigarette products as harmful, and they all agree in large numbers that these products require restrictions or stricter regulation.
In this regard we ask our government officials and legislators to heed the sentiments of our people. We echo the results of Pulse Asia’s Ulat ng Bayan survey. Reject the bill pending in Congress that attempts to weaken existing regulations on e-cigarette and vape products.
Signed by:
Action For Economic Reforms (AER)
Southeast Asia Tobacco Control Alliance (SEATCA)
HealthJustice Philippines
Philippine Pediatric Society