Philippine Health Coalition Supports Raising the Vape and Tobacco Age Limit to 25
A Philippine coalition advocating for health and children’s rights has expressed support for the Health Secretary’s call to raise the legal age for vapes and tobacco products from 18 to 25.
Key Takeaways
- The Philippine Tobacco Control Coalition supports raising the legal age for vapes and tobacco products from 18 to 25.
- The coalition states that the brains of young people continue to develop until their mid-twenties, and exposure to nicotine during this period could cause lasting damage.
- The coalition supports Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa’s statement that vapes pose a public health threat and require immediate legislative action.
- The coalition notes that the Philippines has recorded its first vape-related death, a 22-year-old.
- The coalition reiterates its call for a complete ban on vapes, cigarettes, and other tobacco products, and demands that the government implement a maximum tobacco tax.
Advocacy Groups Back Proposal to Raise Legal Age for Nicotine Products
On March 11, 2026. Newsinfo reported that a coalition of health and children’s rights advocacy groups in the Philippines expressed support for Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa’s call to raise the legal age limit for vapes and tobacco products to 25.
Tobacco Control Alliance Expresses Strong Support
The Philippine Tobacco Control Alliance stated, “We strongly support raising the legal age limit for vapes and tobacco products from 18 to 25.”
Scientific Evidence on Brain Development and Nicotine Risks
The organization stated that scientific evidence shows that the brains of young people “continue to develop into their mid-twenties.”
The alliance stated, “Exposure to nicotine during this period can lead to lasting impairment in impulse control, learning, and mood regulation.”
Broad Coalition of Health and Advocacy Organizations
The alliance comprises the Southeast Asia Tobacco Control Alliance, TobaccOFF NOW! Movement, the Philippine Legislators’ Committee on Population and Development, the Child Rights Network, Action for Economic Reforms, ImagineLaw, the Philippine Smoke-Free Movement, HealthJustice Philippines, Parents Against Vape, and Transcend.
Health Secretary Warns Vapes Are a Public Health Threat
The alliance echoed Herbosa’s warning that “vapes are a public health threat requiring immediate legislative action.”
First Vape-Related Death Raises Alarm
The alliance urged Congress to “put the health and safety of young people above industry profits,” noting that the Philippines has recorded its first vape-related death, a 22-year-old youth.
Rising Vape Use Among Filipino Students
The alliance stated that, according to the latest data, one in seven Filipino students uses vapes, and legislation should “reflect the severity of the current health crisis.”
Coalition Calls for Complete Ban on Nicotine Products
The alliance stated, “We have consistently called for a complete ban on vapes, cigarettes, and other tobacco products, including heated tobacco products and nicotine pouches.”
Coalition Urges Government to Implement Maximum Tobacco Tax
Currently, the alliance is urging the government to implement the highest possible tobacco tax.
