The Fiji Cancer Society has today revealed that it is pushing hard to ban the sale of individual cigarettes.
President Marilyn Curtis said these steps need to be taken urgently due to the growing number of children smoking cigarettes in the country.
Curtis said parents should also play their part and take their responsibility
"We’re finding that young people are being asked by parents to go and buy cigarettes for them which is encouraging them and not showing them good example. Also, they can buy from a lot of store owners just a single cigarette and it’s only just the start of having a single cigarette that can bring on smoking as a habit. With a full packet, to get their hands on it: it would be a lot more expensive and a lot harder to purchase." Curtis.
Curtis also said stringent action should be taken against the shop owners selling cigarettes to minors.
"That has to come under rules just like any other law this is something that can’t be done by a shop owner. They’ve just got to see: do they want to pay the consequences of someone having overseas treatment? Or do they want to know if they’ve harmed a child in some way”. I think it’s looked at as if it’s just another product on the shelf that makes money. We need to tell them: No, this is not the way to make money." Curtis.
Some senior Health Ministry officials are now pushing for the banning of the sale of cigarette rolls.
Fijivillage has established that discussions have been ongoing. A few meetings have already been held and serious consideration is being made to impose a ban on the sale of individual rolls.
Meanwhile, the Tobacco Control Unit continues to charge minors caught smoking cigarettes.
