Event Overview
In Pasig City, on World Lung Day, a collective of young Filipinos launched a bold stand against the tobacco industry. The TobaccOFF NOW! Movement, a youth-created and youth-led advocacy group, unveiled its Youth Manifesto Against Tobacco Industry Interference on Sept. 25. The document marks the start of a broader campaign, built with input from 79 youth organizations and supported by more than 100 community partners. The initiative places youth at the center of tobacco-control advocacy, calling for immediate government action to counter industry tactics that appeal to young people.
Six Key Demands
1) Raise the age limit to 21 for all nicotine-based products
The manifesto urges policymakers to set a uniform minimum age of 21 for purchasing nicotine-based products, closing gaps that currently allow underage access and aligning with best practices in public health protection.
2) Eliminate flavors in vaping and nicotine products
A core demand is the removal of flavors from electronic cigarettes, heated tobacco products, nicotine pouches, and related items, a move aimed at reducing youth curiosity and experimentation.
3) Ban appealing packaging and modern-looking devices
The document calls for prohibiting packaging designs and device aesthetics that glamorize use or make nicotine products appear fun and sophisticated to young consumers.
4) Tighten distribution laws and penalize underage sales
The manifesto pushes for stronger controls on how nicotine products are distributed, with particular focus on social media and ecommerce. It also seeks penalties for retailers who sell to minors.
5) Enforce a comprehensive advertising ban
To curb youth exposure, the proposal advocates for a full advertising ban, including promotions, influencer partnerships, and sponsorships linked to nicotine products.
6) Increase taxes on nicotine-based products
Raising taxes on nicotine products is presented as a deterrent against youth consumption, while helping fund broader public-health initiatives.
Support, Partnerships, and Long-Term Vision
The launch drew representatives from prominent tobacco-control and public-health groups, including ImagineLaw, the Philippine Smoke-free Network, HealthJustice Philippines, Transcend, and the Ateneo School of Government. Jeannie Anne Maguad of the Positive Youth Development Network emphasized that this launch is merely the beginning of a sustained movement, with plans to bring more young people into advocacy through Community Patrollers and other civil-society networks across the Philippines.
What the Movement Aims to Achieve
Beyond the manifesto, TobaccOFF NOW! is building a national coalition to amplify youth voices in policymaking. The organizers aim to gather at least 15,000 youth signatures in support of the manifesto by the end of 2025, signaling widespread demand for stronger protections against tobacco-industry interference in the lives of young Filipinos.
Implications for Policy and Public Health
If adopted, the six demands could reshape how nicotine products are regulated in the Philippines, touching age limits, flavors, packaging, advertising, and taxation. Proponents argue that stronger rules are essential to reduce susceptibility among youth while ensuring a fair, accountable regulatory environment for the entire population. The campaign also highlights the role of youth-led advocacy in pressuring government bodies to prioritize health protections over industry interests.
Get Involved
Those wishing to support the movement can follow its updates and join community efforts in their region. The organizers stress that broad and sustained youth participation is key to turning the manifesto into policy action and ensuring that the voices of young people are heard at the highest levels of government.
