10 retailers’ tobacco licences suspended for selling cigarettes to minors
16 April 2018: SINGAPORE: The tobacco licences of 10 retailers have been suspended for six months after they were caught selling cigarettes to customers under
Health group urges government agencies to regulate e-cigarettes
5 April 2018: MANILA, Philippines — Anti-tobacco group Health Justice Philippines (HJP) has pushed for the regulation of electronic cigarettes, saying these products will put
DepEd set to roll out EskweLA BAN sa Sigarilyo nationwide
5 April 2018: PASIG CITY, April 5 — Beginning next school year, all schools nationwide are expected to be part of EskweLA BAN sa Sigarilyo, an initiative that
Pampanga police launch smoking cessation campaign
2 April 2018: CITY OF SAN FERNANDO – As part of its environment and health-friendly activities, the Pampanga Police Provincial Office (PPPO), led by Senior
Holy Week abstinence: Shun cigarettes
28 March 2018: If there was one vice that should be sacrificed this Holy Week, it should be smoking, according to antismoking advocates. The group,
Tobacco Companies Making a Fortune in Southeast Asia
3 March 2018: About 10 percent of the world’s one billion smokers live in the member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
Michael Bloomberg launches tobacco industry watchdog
7 March 2017: Former New York mayor commits $20m to project amid fears of dirty tricks by cigarette companies A new global watchdog agency has
From Losing A Loved One To Almost Losing Their Lives, These Are The Confessions Of Tobacco Victims
7 March 2018: Has someone dear to you passed away because of smoking? Well, know that you are not alone, as in Malaysia, sadly, about
Malaysia: KL folk want more smoking zones
4 March 2018: City folk are calling for more action against smoking in public places. This comes as non-smokers said they are increasingly exposed to
Philippines: DOH told to ensure cigarette packs have new graphic warnings
3 March 2018: Tobacco control advocates have called on the Department of Health (DOH) to ensure that tobacco products would be showing new graphic health
Big Tobacco’s smoke and mirrors in ASEAN
28 February 2018: The highs and lows of tobacco control in Southeast Asia If the countries of Southeast Asia are to reduce their burden of
Singapore:Vaping would only encourage the young to smoke
24 February 2018: The suggestion to allow e-cigarettes in a limited and controlled way (Is ‘controlled vaping’ the answer, by Dr Lee Pheng Soon ;
Health experts say call to endorse vaping is “height of absurdity”
23 February 2018: Public health think tank HealthJustice and anti-tobacco organization Southeast Asia Tobacco Control Alliance (SEATCA) have denounced a vapers’ group’s call for the
Philippines: Task force inspects CBD establishments
19 February 2018: MEMBERS of the Smoke-Free Baguio Task Force conducted inspections last week at the Summer Capital’s central business district (CBD) to monitor the
Consumer Health: Secondhand smoke and heart disease
16 February 2018: You don’t smoke because you understand the dangers — but what about smoke you inhale involuntarily? Secondhand smoke causes or contributes to
Singapore Budget 2018: Tax hike kicks in for all tobacco products
20 February 2018: Lighting up might cost smokers more from now on as an increase in excise duty on all tobacco products kicked in yesterday.
Malaysia: Keeping smokers out of non-smoking areas
19 February 2018: SHAH ALAM: More than 16,000 compounds, amounting to RM4.6 million, have been issued to smokers in non-smoking zones until November. Deputy director-general
Malaysia: No smoking campaigns having impact on the young
19 February 2018: BOLD “Tak Nak” or “Say No” to cigarette posters dot government offices and hospitals. It’s hard not to notice them. The signs
Malaysia: Raising cigarette prices is one sure way to stub out this bad habit
19 February 2018: SHAH ALAM: Raising the prices of cigarettes is one of the most effective ways to decrease consumption and encourage tobacco users, especially
Myanmar: Anti-smoking groups want government to control sale of electronic cigarettes
12 February 2018: ALARMED by the rising use of electronic cigarettes in the local market, anti-smoking groups want authorities to control the sale of the
Philippines: Erap reiterates importance of smoking ban in campaign to make Manila cleanest city
5 February 2018: EVEN the seat of government of the city of Manila is not spared from Mayor Joseph E. Estrada’s order on smoking ban
Thailand bans smoking, littering at popular tourist beaches
2 February 2018: BANGKOK (Reuters) – Thailand banned smoking and littering at 24 beachside locations that are popular with tourists over environmental concerns on Thursday,
Indonesia: As the Rest of the World Quits, Indonesia’s Smokers Increase
6 February 2018: Indonesia famously is a country of smokers, with the world’s highest prevalence among males. More than two-thirds of males 15 years of
Philippines: Erap orders anew strict enforcement of smoking ban in all public places
4 February 2018: Manila Mayor Joseph “Erap” Estrada ordered anew to strictly enforce the smoking ban in all public places in the capital city. The
Asia Minute: Thailand’s Growing Beach Ban on Smoking
2 February 2018: It’s been illegal to smoke on the beach in Hawai‘i for some time. It was nearly two and a half years ago
Singapore: Enlarged graphic warnings for tobacco products under new MOH proposal
4 February 2018: SINGAPORE — All tobacco products in Singapore may soon have enlarged graphic health warnings which could cover 75 per cent of the
Philippines: DOF’s tobacco tax hike proposal lauded
28 January 2018: A pro-health group yesterday welcomed Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III’s announcement that the Department of Finance’s (DOF’s) proposed tax package will include
Singapore bans purchase, use and possession of imitation tobacco products like e-cigarettes
27 January 2018: SINGAPORE: From Feb 1, it will be illegal to buy, use and possess emerging and imitation tobacco products such as smokeless tobacco
Singapore: Buying, using and possessing imitation tobacco products like e-cigarettes will be illegal from Feb 1
27 January 2018: SINGAPORE – From Feb 1, it will be illegal to buy, use and possess emerging and imitation tobacco products such as smokeless
Malaysia: Health Ministry says no to kiddie pack cigarettes
18 January 2018: PUTRAJAYA: The government will in no way support the proposal by the tobacco industry to re-introduce kiddie pack cigarettes (pack of 10
Malaysia: Bandar Springhill mosque recognised by Health Ministry for being smoke-free
20 January 2018: PORT DICKSON: It’s a good start to the year for the Bandar Springhill mosque which has been recognised by the Health Ministry
In Indonesia, big tobacco cling to a smokescreen
10 December 2017: As antismoking groups in the US celebrate a victory in their decades-long fight against Big Tobacco, their Southeast Asian counterparts are still struggling
Measly increase in tobacco tax in TRAIN to increase number of smokers in PH
15 December 2017: Congress approved on Wednesday Package 1 of the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) which lowers income taxes, while raising excise
ASEAN moving at ‘snail’s pace’ in preventing tobacco industry interference – report
27 November 2017: The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is moving at a “snail’s pace” in terms of preventing tobacco industry interference. In a
MMDA to metro mayors: Implement ‘no smoking policy’
25 November 2017: The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) urged Metro Manila cities on Saturday to comply with the treaty that promotes awareness against the
Open letter to Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe
21 November 2017: Open letter to Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe calling on his government to make restaurants and bars 100% smoke-free and fulfil its obligations under
Philippines: Enforce smoking ban, PNP told
15 November 2017: The National Police Commission (Napolcom) ordered the Philippine National Police (PNP) to strictly enforce the provisions of Executive Order (E.O.) No. 26
Philippines: Bago City to enforce anti-smoking ordinance next week
14 November 2017: MAYOR Nicholas Yulo said the City Government will start next week the full enforcement of the Comprehensive Smoke Free Ordinance of Bago
Baby’s death sparks call for Indonesia to crack down on big tobacco
5 November 2017: A young Indonesian couple who believe cigarettes killed their baby son want the country’s Government to shut down the nation’s powerful tobacco
Legal age for smoking to be gradually raised from 18 to 21
7 November 2017: The minimum age will go up to 19 on Jan 1, 2019, 20 on Jan 1, 2020 and 21 and Jan 1,
SEATCA holds Good Governance in Tobacco Control meeting in Bangkok
2-3 November 2017: Government officials from 20 countries all over the world, development partners including the World Health Organization (WHO) and United Nations Development Program
Philippines: DoH holds two-day summit on non-communicable diseases
21 October 2017: Due to the growing concern over the increasing number of younger people from the region’s low and middle-income groups who are dying
Philippines: Why Pacquiao deserves kudos
21 October 2017: Belated kudos to Sen. Manny Pacquiao, the first senator to figuratively give the finger to the cigarette/tobacco lobby. A week or so
Philippines: NBI seizes 480 mastercases of cigarettes without tax stamps
21 October 2017: MANILA, Philippines — The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) has confiscated 480 mastercases of cigarettes without tax stamps during a raid in
Thailand: Smoking ban planned at 20 popular beaches
10 October 2017: Smoking will soon be banned on 20 popular tourist beaches found to be constantly littered with huge numbers of discarded cigarette butts,
Thailand: No ifs, no butts – smoking ban for 20 popular beaches
11 October 2017: THE MARINE and Coastal Resources Department plans to ban smoking on beaches around the country next month after thousands of cigarette butts were found
Philippines: Want to quit smoking? Remember these 7Ds
10 October 2017: Have you ever thought of quitting your smoking habit, only to be stopped by the thought of taking just one last drag?
Philippines: World Bank cites success of PH ‘sin’ tax reform
9 October 2017: The World Bank has cited the Philippines’ sin tax reform as among the “most successful” tobacco taxation that not only shored up
Philippines: Stopping illicit cigarettes
1 October 2017: Building on the gains of government in fighting illegal cigarettes, the Department of Finance Secretary (DOF) instructed the Bureau of Internal Revenue
Policy against tobacco industry needs more push – health group
29 September 2017: Amid strides in preventing the tobacco industry, once dubbed as “the strongest tobacco lobby in Asia,” from advancing its business interests, a