More awareness needed on Tobacco Decree

As work continues on the enforcement of the Tobacco Decree, the Health Ministry said more awareness needs to be carried out in schools.

Spokesperson Peni Namotu said this, as they currently enter the third phase of the enforcement of the Decree.

Last month, five secondary school children were taken in for questioning in Nausori after they were found to be smoking in amusement centres in the town.

He added that when they were questioned, they revealed that they did not know that the sale of cigarettes was banned and that a section of the Decree does not allow smoking in public areas.

Namotu said that this has shown that more awareness is needed in schools and added that vendors need to realize that they face a spot fine if found to be breaching the decree through selling it to people below the age of 18 years.

At the moment, registration of people selling cigarettes is underway while other sections such as the enforcement and the penalties are being looked at.