MP Louis Ng, a former smoker of 17 years, said: "As a smoker I would just pay more, and do something else less, to continue the habit." Prof Teo and Dr van der Eijk proposed following Canada, Turkey, Brazil, parts of the United States as well as European countries in banning outright flavours such as menthol, mint and fruits, which make cigarettes more appealing
In the Philippines, while both alcohol and tobacco control are on the public health agenda, alcohol control policies are reliant on alcohol taxes aimed at revenue generation for universal health coverage
Facts Smoking causes even more deaths from other respiratory diseases and heart conditions than from cancer
This directly affects the overall activity of the body causing decreased focus, concentration, and attention interfering with daily life