Introduction to Tobacco Consumption in Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia is a world leader in efforts to curb tobacco consumption. The country has massively reduced its tobacco consumption since 2010, previously having the highest tobacco consumption per capita. However, it has now fallen to second place in the World Health Organization (WHO) rankings, with Europe taking the top spot.
Significance of Reduced Tobacco Consumption
The decline in tobacco consumption is significant, given that Southeast Asia accounts for about a quarter of the world’s population. At the turn of the century, more than 50% of the region’s population aged 15 years or older used tobacco. It is expected that by 2030, fewer than one in five people in Southeast Asia will use tobacco. According to Kamran Siddiqi, a professor of public health at the University of York, UK, "The decline is remarkable, but it is consistent with what has been seen in the rest of the world."
Global Decline in Tobacco Consumption
Since 2000, people around the world have been turning their backs on tobacco, largely due to government regulations on cigarette sales and advertising, as well as public health education campaigns. In 2010, the WHO set a goal of reducing tobacco consumption by 30% within 15 years. Only Southeast Asia, Africa, and America are likely to achieve this goal.
Health Risks Associated with Tobacco Consumption
Direct tobacco use and exposure to secondhand smoke can cause serious illnesses such as lung cancer, heart disease, stroke, and asthma. Tobacco kills approximately seven million people each year, and an additional 1.6 million non-smokers exposed to secondhand smoke also die as a result of tobacco use.
Data on Tobacco Consumption
The latest data from the WHO shows a general decline in tobacco consumption, with 120 million fewer smokers worldwide today than in 2010. This corresponds to a decline of 27% over the period of 15 years. In Southeast Asia, more than 50% of smokers have quit smoking, which is good news because physiological improvements begin almost immediately when users stop smoking.
Challenges in Reducing Tobacco Consumption
Despite the decline in tobacco consumption, a fifth of the world’s population still uses tobacco, and it’s not just cigarettes; products include chewing tobacco, pouches, and e-cigarettes. Monitoring the use of smokeless products is difficult and is not held to the same standard as cigarette use. Additionally, progress is slower in higher-income countries, and most tobacco users are male, making targeted public health interventions necessary.
Success Story of Southeast Asia
It is estimated that tobacco consumption in Southeast Asia has fallen by 40% since 2010, largely due to men quitting smoking. In 2000, 70% of men in Southeast Asia were tobacco users, but this number has now almost halved. A society-wide effort, including researchers, politicians, and law enforcement agencies, has led to the decline in smoking.
Measures to Reduce Tobacco Consumption
Countries in Southeast Asia have introduced measures such as health labels and messages on products, smoking bans, education in schools, and the use of actors and athletes as positive role models. These measures have curbed tobacco consumption and reduced the number of young first-time users. Unique approaches to tobacco control, such as requiring health warnings to be posted wherever tobacco use is displayed in public, have also been implemented in countries like India.
Next Challenge: Smokeless Tobacco
A quarter of all tobacco users worldwide still live in Southeast Asia, and the decline in cigarette smoking masks the continued widespread use of smoke-free products. More than a quarter of men in the region use such products, and only one in seven women use them, although still significantly less. Around one in seven young people between the ages of 13 and 15 use electronic cigarettes.
Solutions to Further Reduce Tobacco Use
To further reduce tobacco use, Southeast Asia will rely on both targeted measures to address its unique challenges and those that have achieved greater success around the world. High taxation, plain packaging, and tighter controls on substitute advertising are promising measures. The WHO recommends taxing 70% of the purchase price, and plain packaging has helped curb tobacco consumption in other regions.
Conclusion
The decline in tobacco consumption in Southeast Asia is a significant achievement, but there is still much work to be done. The region must continue to address its unique challenges, such as the widespread use of smokeless products, and implement targeted measures to reduce tobacco use. With the right strategies and interventions, Southeast Asia can further reduce its tobacco consumption and improve the health and well-being of its population.
