Protecting children from the impact of the tobacco industry

According to the Ministry of Health , the rate of e-cigarette use among students in the 13-17 age group increased from 2.6% in 2019 to 8.1% in 2023. In the 13-15 age group, the rate has more than doubled from 3.5% in 2022 to 8% in 2023. The increase in children using tobacco, especially e-cigarettes, will lead to many health consequences for the younger generation.

Doctors educate patients about the harmful effects of electronic cigarettes.

The Ministry of Health has just sent a document to ministries, departments, branches and central organizations on organizing activities in response to World No Tobacco Day on May 31, National No Tobacco Week from May 25 to 31, 2024 and strengthening the implementation of the Law on Prevention and Control of Tobacco Harms.

World No Tobacco Day on May 31, 2024 was launched by the World Health Organization with the theme "Protecting children from the impacts of the tobacco industry".

The World Health Organization (WHO) stressed that World No Tobacco Day 2024 is a forum for young people around the world to demand that the tobacco industry stop targeting children and adolescents with harmful products, and to call on governments to take strong anti-tobacco measures and protect them from the impact of tobacco advertising, including marketing through social media and digital platforms.

According to the World Health Organization, there is a clear link between the increase in youth use of tobacco products and the exposure of youth to tobacco advertising, promotion and marketing, particularly on digital platforms.

Globally, an estimated 19 million adolescents aged 13–15 years (13 million boys and 6 million girls) currently smoke tobacco, of which approximately 5 million are young smokers living in Southeast Asia.

Surveys in most countries show that children aged 13-15 years old have a high rate of using tobacco products, especially new tobacco products such as e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products.

In Vietnam, according to the Ministry of Health, achievements in preventing and combating the harmful effects of tobacco are at risk of being destroyed by the rapid increase in the use of products called electronic cigarettes and heated tobacco products, especially among young people.

The rate of e-cigarette use among students in the 13-17 age group increased from 2.6% in 2019 to 8.1% in 2023. In the 13-15 age group, the rate more than doubled from 3.5% in 2022 to 8% in 2023.

To continue to strengthen the implementation of the Law on Tobacco Harm Prevention and Control and the National Strategy on Tobacco Harm Prevention and Control, the Ministry of Health requests central ministries, branches and organizations to coordinate and direct the organization of activities to strengthen the implementation of the Law on Tobacco Harm Prevention and Control and the National Strategy on Tobacco Harm Prevention and Control; respond to World No Tobacco Day on May 31 and National No Tobacco Week from May 25 to 31.

Strictly implement the regulation prohibiting smoking, build a smoke-free environment in the workplace in the ministry and agencies, units in the assigned sectors and fields; direct the inclusion of tobacco harm prevention content in the annual work plan, include the regulation prohibiting smoking in the workplace in the internal regulations of the agency, unit; hang no-smoking signs in the workplace.

Regularly monitor the implementation of regulations prohibiting smoking in workplaces of ministries, branches, organizations and affiliated units.

Develop a plan and effectively implement the National Strategy on Tobacco Harm Prevention and Control by 2030.

Strengthening inspection and examination of the implementation of the Law on Prevention and Control of Tobacco Harms; Continuing to strengthen penalties for violations of smoking ban regulations in places where smoking is prohibited;

Implementing the direction of the Prime Minister in Official Dispatch No. 47/CD-TTg dated May 13, 2024 on strengthening the management of e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products to prevent the use of e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products.

Organize communication activities in response to World No Tobacco Day May 31 and National No Tobacco Week from May 25 - 31, 2024.

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