Further assessment of international policies on smoking is required, with any policies considered or implemented ultimately keeping citizens’ health, public consensus and viability in mind, the Ministry of Health and Welfare said yesterday.
The comments came in light of the UK parliament’s passage of the Tobacco and Vapes Bill on Monday, which has been forwarded to King Charles III for royal assent.
The bill would prohibit the sale of tobacco to all people born on or after Jan. 1, 2009.
Photo: Wang Yi-sung, Taipei Times
Minister of Health and Welfare Shih Chung-liang (石崇良) said that such policies represent a significant change and would require broader public discussion, adding that he has asked the Health Promotion Administration (HPA) to assess their viability.
The HPA said various actions have been taken internationally to prevent tobacco hazards, many of which are based on the social and public health needs of the individual country.
Taiwan’s Tobacco Hazard Prevention Act (菸害防治法) is tackling the issue at the source, it said.
The act has banned all e-cigarettes and has stepped up school promotions, and inspections, restricted online sales and allowed clinics to provide nicotine patches or similar items to help combat withdrawal, it added.
Citing investigation results on smoking habits from 2024, the HPA said that adult smoking rates have dropped 41.6 percent since 2008.
However, the prevalence of smoking in men gradually increases after the age of 18, while there is a gradual increase in the number of female smokers between the ages of 40 and 49, it said.
Differences in smoking habits in different age brackets vary, and care must be taken when it comes to young people, it added.
Regarding secondhand smoke exposure indoors, the HPA said that for those aged 18 and older it dropped to 3.2 percent in 2024.
However, the number of people smoking outside has briefly spiked outdoor secondhand exposure rates, which have only recently exhibited a downward trend, it said.
Tobacco is a well-known carcinogen, and exposure to the substance, regardless of amount, brings with it accompanying risks, Shih said.
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