WHO Urges Southeast Asia to Combat Illegal Tobacco and Alcohol Trade

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has called on countries in the Southeast Asia region to recognize the dangers of alcohol and tobacco, whether legal or illicit. WHO Regional Director Saima Wazed emphasized the need for decisive actions to stop the illicit trade in tobacco products and to track down and eradicate unreported alcohol consumption.

Call to Action

Wazed urged all remaining member states to become parties to the WHO FCTC Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products. She highlighted the importance of developing and sustaining effective ‘track and trace’ mechanisms for tobacco products.

Health Risks

Unrecorded alcohol, often cheaper and irregularly labeled, poses significant health risks, including unknown ethanol percentages and potentially toxic compounds. Tobacco use significantly increases the risk of over 20 types of cancer, respiratory and cardiovascular disorders, and other medical conditions.

Current Statistics

As of 2022, the WHO South-East Asia Region has the highest average tobacco use prevalence among adults, with 280 million smokeless tobacco users and 11 million adolescent users. Despite progress, the region still faces high tobacco consumption rates.

Conclusion

Wazed called for the prioritization of effective implementation of all WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) measures to address both supply-side and demand-side issues related to tobacco use.