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Vape in the Philippines can be passive in prison. The Philippine president announced Tuesday, November 19 evening the ban on vaping, ordering the police to stop any vaper in this country that has been fighting for years a merciless war against drugs. The sale of electronic cigarettes is already banned in India, Brazil, Singapore and Thailand, among others.
The electronic cigarette no longer has the wind in its sails . As early as Wednesday, November 20, the Philippine police have already ordered all police units across the country to arrest those who are caught in the act of vaping. Their electronic cigarettes will be confiscated.
According to AFP, no formal text has yet been made public since the announcement of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte Tuesday, November 19 in the evening, Filipinos therefore ignore the content of the ban, as well as the risks incurred by the vapers. The country already has one of the most stringent laws in Asia against smoking .
Users, taken aback by the sudden ban, question the usefulness of the measure. " It's inappropriate," indignant Alexis Martin, a 22-year-old student . In any case, you do not hurt anyone, neither the environment nor the animals. Why aim at vapers? "
Duterte is known for his war on drugs
Since taking office in 2016, the Philippine President has earned a reputation for his very violent counter-narcotics campaign , with anti-drug services confirming that he has shot more than 5,500 people. It has also toughened tobacco bans in public places.
The head of state, himself a former smoker, describes the e-cigarette as " toxic " and accuses him of spreading " chemicals " in the user's body. Recently, her health minister echoed the hospitalization of a 16-year-old girl with a lung injury, presented as directly related to the electronic cigarette, according to this government member.
" Undoubtedly harmful ", according to WHO
If the Philippines is so far the only country to take such drastic measures, Rodrigo Duterte is far from being the first to warn against vaping. The World Health Organization (WHO) also said that e-cigarettes were "undeniably harmful" in a report released in July.
US health authorities classify e-cigarettes as " dangerous " for young people. While the number of high school students has doubled in the country between 2017 and 2018, the state of Massachusetts has also banned the practice.