Every year, tobacco causes more than 100,000 deaths
The above figures were given at the policy communication workshop of the draft Law amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Law on Prevention and Control of Tobacco Harms, organized by the Ministry of Health on February 27.
Deputy Minister of Health Tran Van Thuan said that the Law on Prevention and Control of Tobacco Harms has been implemented for 13 years, with very remarkable results. The smoking rate among adolescents has decreased. The smoking rate among adults also tends to decrease compared to before. However, practice shows that many new challenges are being posed.
Some provisions of the Law on Prevention and Control of Tobacco Harms are no longer appropriate, with difficulties, obstacles, and inadequacies, especially the appearance of e-cigarettes, heated tobacco, and other products containing nicotine. These products are used in many forms such as smoking, inhaling, chewing, chewing... accompanied by addictive nicotine substances, harmful substances, and substances or solutions whose harmfulness has not been determined, so they are truly a danger to people's health.
The situation of not complying with regulations on no-smoking locations is also quite common, leading to harm to other people's health due to passive inhalation of cigarette smoke, in which women and children are the most affected. Easily buying cigarettes at a fairly cheap price per pack also increases access to and use of cigarettes.
Currently, Vietnam still has about 15.8 million smokers. The smoking rate among adults is 20.8%, of which men account for 41.1%. Each year, tobacco causes more than 100,000 deaths.
The economic burden caused by tobacco is estimated at VND 108,700 billion in 2022, equivalent to 1.14% of GDP. If including environmental losses such as deforestation, plastic waste, seawater pollution... this figure exceeds 2% of GDP each year.
In addition, violations of regulations on selling and displaying cigarettes are still common. Monitoring results in major cities show that there are an average of 13 cigarette selling points around each school.
Ministry of Health proposes to completely ban tobacco displays
This draft amended law focuses on two key policy groups: Comprehensively prohibiting the production, business, storage, transportation, advertising, promotion, sponsorship, storage and use of e-cigarettes, heated tobacco, and new tobacco; and prohibiting wholesale and retail establishments from displaying tobacco in any form.
According to Deputy Minister Tran Van Thuan, international experience shows that 59 countries have banned tobacco displays at points of sale and countries that apply this measure have a smoking rate among adults about 7% lower than countries that do not apply it.
Regarding e-cigarettes, the Deputy Minister of Health emphasized that the National Assembly has made a very timely decision in Resolution No. 173/2024/QH15 on banning the production, trading, import, storage, transportation and use of e-cigarettes and heated tobacco.
At the same time, the 2025 Investment Law has also included these products in the list of prohibited business. Reality shows that after Resolution 173 took effect, the circulation of these products on the market has decreased sharply. However, to ensure the effectiveness, efficiency and consistency of the legal system, legalizing these prohibited regulations in the Law on Prevention and Control of Tobacco Harms is an inevitable requirement.
Deputy Minister Tran Van Thuan affirmed that protecting people's health is the highest priority; protecting children, women and vulnerable groups is an undeniable responsibility. The right to live, study and work in a smoke-free environment must be placed at the center of all policies.
Sharing about this proposal, Dr. Nguyen Trong Khoa - Deputy Director of the Department of Medical Examination and Treatment, Ministry of Health - said that there is currently no strict prohibition of display in the Law on Prevention and Control of Tobacco Harms. The fact that still allowing display of cigarette packs and tubes corresponds to allowing points of sale to advertise cigarette products, thereby encouraging consumption and use of cigarettes.
The exhibition ban aims to eliminate disguised advertising, reduce the attractiveness and accessibility of cigarettes for children and teenagers, limit the act of buying cigarettes unintentionally and support smokers to quit smoking.
At the same time, this policy is also not consistent with the international obligations that Vietnam has committed to in the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC), which requires a comprehensive ban on advertising, promotion and sponsorship of tobacco if not contrary to the Constitution.
