E-Cigarette Survey

Seven out of 10 Filipino adult smokers believe that vape devices or electronic cigarettes are positive alternatives to conventional cigarettes, according to the 2016 Asian Nations Adult Smoker E- cigarette Survey commissioned by consumer advocacy group “http://factasia. org/” \t “_blank” factasia.org.

The same number of adult smokers would consider switching to e-cigarettes if they were legal, met quality and safety standards, and were conveniently available.

Younger adult Filipino smokers are more likely to switch to e-cigarettes compared to those 40 years or older.

Conducted by Ipsos from July 26 to Aug. 9 among 600 adult smokers aged 18 years and older in Metro Manila, Metro Cebu, and Metro Davao, the survey showed that e-cigarette usage is low in the Philippines, with regular and occasional users totaling just four percent of adult smokers.

Among occasional e-cigarette users, 43 percent say the price of e-cigarettes has kept them from using the product more. Twentyone percent say accessibility is a reason, while 20 percent say flavor has kept them from using more frequently.

Majority are familiar with e-cigarettes (58 percent), but 29 percent said they were not at all familiar.

The survey findings are consistent with a report by the Royal College of Physicians (RCP) which concluded that vape devices should be widely available and that doctors should encourage smokers to use them.

A review by Public Health England also concluded that e-cigarettes may be contributing to falling smoking rates among adults and young people in the UK.

A coalition of 13 leading British public health organizations now actually encourages the use of nicotine-containing e-cigarettes, coupled with appropriate regulation of their safety and quality.

There are those who say that public health authorities in the Philippines should approve similar regulation and availability for vape devices.