It will be interesting to see how effective the smoking ban in public places will be.


Estimates vary for the country’s smoking rates, but probably ~ 16 million adults ( over 15 ) - especially men - smoke ; and around a tenth of children ( 13 - 15 ) also smoke. While adult rates have hardly declined for many years, youth rates ARE thought to have done so.



Graphic health warning labels on packs have been required since November last year, but they still don’t all have these warnings, and many cigarettes are bought individually. " Sin taxes " have attempted to raise the cost of cigarettes in the past few years, receipts helping to fund PhilHealth.



The CNN report is misleading - the " estimated six million deaths a year because of tobacco-related diseases " is worldwide, NOT just the Philippines ( probably over 100,000 ).


It’s 10 years since the entire UK became smoke-free in indoor public places. There are now about 2 million fewer smokers ( 8 million remain ) - reduction from 21% in 2007 to 16% last year ( ~15.5% England ; ~17% Wales; ~18% Scotland and Northern Ireland ). ~18% men and ~14% women STILL smoke.



Of course air pollution, from traffic, industry, and in homes ( heating and cooking ) is an increasing worldwide problem - especially in cities like Manila - and may well cause over 4 million deaths each year. That remains to be successfully solved - but not the topic of this thread.