Macau Groups Call for E-Cigarette Regulation to Reduce Youth Use

On September 2, 2019, the eighth "Tobacco Control and Health" inter-school quiz competition series organized by the Smoke-Free Macau Healthy Living Association held a press conference. This year's theme is "Health Towards the Greater Bay Area," promoting mutual exchange and learning among youth from Guangdong and Macau, leveraging the influence of peer role models. The association's Executive Director, Chan Ya-ching, stated that last year's data showed that over 16% of youths had used e-cigarettes, with more than 40% having never smoked cigarettes, indicating the appeal of e-cigarettes to young people. Coupled with misleading advertising from tobacco companies, it is suggested that authorities strengthen education and regulation of e-cigarettes.

The Smoke-Free Macau Healthy Living Association held the press conference for the eighth "Tobacco Control and Health" inter-school quiz competition today.

The press conference was held on the 5th floor of the Fortune Center, attended by the association's Chairman, Tsai Tian-tian, Vice Chairman, Leung Ko-kong, and Vice Chairman and Chairman of this year's organizing committee, Yip Wai-shing.

48 Teams Participating in the Tobacco Control Inter-school Quiz Competition

According to the introduction, the series of activities includes the "Tobacco Control and Health" inter-school quiz competition to be held on October 27 at the University of Macau Student Activity Center. The organizers actively respond to the national Greater Bay Area development strategy, strengthen educational and cultural exchanges in the Bay Area, and invite youth representatives from Guangzhou, Shenzhen, and Zhuhai to form teams to participate, enhancing awareness of the harms of smoking, especially e-cigarettes, leveraging peer role models to promote a smoke-free culture. This year, it is expected to recruit 48 participating teams, and all participating students will be awarded the title of "Youth Pioneer in Tobacco Control," with a follow-up organization of pioneers to conduct a "Greater Bay Area Learning Tour" to visit high-tech industries and broaden their horizons.

Additionally, the "Tobacco Harm Information and Tobacco Control Regulations Touring Exhibition" will introduce electronic interactive facilities, incorporating new elements from social media platforms to showcase knowledge about the harms of traditional tobacco and e-cigarettes, and will tour three youth centers under the Education and Youth Affairs Bureau starting in October this year: the Junjing Activity Center, the Taipa Education Activity Center, and the Lakeside Comprehensive Activity Center. Meanwhile, the "WeChat Prize Quiz Game" will be held from now until October 20, where citizens only need to correctly answer five questions related to tobacco harm and tobacco control regulations to participate in a grand lottery.

Yip Wai-shing stated in an interview that the current tobacco control effectiveness in Macau is significant, suggesting that education should continue to be strengthened and that anti-smoking messages should be promoted at all ports in Macau. He expressed greater concern about the threat of e-cigarettes to Macau's youth, believing that the influence among peers is worth noting, thus requiring enhanced promotion of anti-smoking in schools. He also believes that Macau absolutely has the conditions to promote a comprehensive smoking ban, and the timing is ripe, but it still needs to balance opinions from all sectors of society before implementation.

Chan Ya-ching added that in 2015, the rate of youth using e-cigarettes was 2.6%, close to the smoking rate; the association conducted a random sampling survey of about 400 students from 10 schools in Macau last year, finding that 16.2% of respondents reported having used e-cigarettes, among which 43.5% of students had never smoked cigarettes, indicating a significant appeal of e-cigarettes to youth. Coupled with misleading advertising from e-cigarette companies, including claims of aiding in smoking cessation and being less harmful than cigarettes, and the ease of purchasing from neighboring regions, it is believed that the government needs to strengthen regulation of the circulation channels of e-cigarettes.