BUREAUCRATS are of the opinion that a sure-fire way to prevent minors from taking up smoking is to continuously increase cigarette prices.

Whoever thinks this works is far removed from reality.

A minor, probably a student, who takes up smoking is not going to buy a whole pack. A few of them would share a pack, costing each of them not more than a ringgit.

Why is it so easy for someone to take up smoking? Because it is so easy to buy cigarettes.

Cigarettes are available in timber camps, five-star hotels and sundry shops. If your height is at least 1.5m, you can easily buy cigarettes.

The only way you can stop minors from smoking is to restrict and control the distribution and sale of cigarettes.

One way to achieve this is to only allow the sale of cig-arettes via vending machines, whereby purchase is linked to the MyKad, which can also double up as a cash card.

Or in other words, as in the Touch ’n Go concept, everyone will need to use his MyKad to buy a cigarette.

Foreigners can be allowed to buy using a pre-paid cash card. To curb abuse, foreigners should be charged double the price.

Any outlet that sells cig-arettes should be slapped with a hefty fine on the spot. With no mode of distribution available, smuggled and illegally-imported cigarettes will not have an avenue of sale in the public arena.

This can curb the illicit tobacco trade, which accounts for 25 per cent of total sales.

With the increasing cig-arette prices, even bona-fide operators might find it lucrative to use duty-free channels to protect their market share. With vending machines, the government can curb such potential practices and increase revenue as well.

The alternative to restricted distribution is a total ban.

B.J. FERNANDEZ, Shah Alam

Source: NST – September 5, 2008