On 24/12 in Hanoi, the first "Outstanding Smoke-Free Hotels" program, organized by the Tobacco Harm Prevention and Control Fund and the Ministry of Health in coordination with Van Hoa Newspaper, highlighted the severe impact of tobacco. Dr. Phan Thi Hai, Deputy Director of the Fund, noted that the estimated annual deaths and economic losses underscore how "the use of tobacco products severely impacts public health and negatively affects socio-economic development."

Tobacco smoke contains over 7,000 chemicals, including at least 70 carcinogens, which cause numerous serious diseases such as lung cancer, cardiovascular diseases, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, infertility, and other incurable illnesses.

Concerningly, according to Dr. Hai, e-cigarette use among youth is rapidly increasing. Thousands of young patients have been hospitalized due to e-cigarette poisoning, with many experiencing coma, severe lung damage, and mental disorders from products containing narcotic substances.

E-cigarette use harms both the user and those exposed to secondhand smoke. Photo: Khue Lam

Over 10 years of implementing the Law on Tobacco Harm Prevention and Control, the Fund has collaborated to establish smoke-free environments, including a smoke-free hotel model. Many accommodation establishments prohibit smoking on their premises, install "no smoking" signs, and train staff to guide and remind guests to comply with regulations. A 2024 survey on tobacco use (PGATS 2024) revealed that the rate of exposure to secondhand smoke in hotels decreased by 14.6% in 2024 compared to 2020.

During this event, 44 hotels were honored as "Smoke-Free Hotels." The program aims to spread the smoke-free environment model throughout the service and tourism industry, encouraging smokers to reduce or quit, thereby contributing to a reduction in tobacco-related diseases.

Le Nga