Activists push tobacco bill

Activists push tobacco bill

A network of youth activists working to curb drinking and smoking among young people yesterday urged the government to speed up a new bill to prevent people taking up the habit.

The bill seeks to increase the minimum age at which someone can buy tobacco from 18 to 20.

Led by Supapan Pho-ong, the group said they were concerned the bill would run into obstacles after reports it has been met with fierce resistance from the tobacco industry.

According to Ms Supapan, the youth network and its partners submitted a petition to the government earlier this week urging it to speed up its deliberation of the bill and forward it to the National Legislative Assembly.

"We've been following the bill's progress and are wondering why it is being delayed. People have started asking whether foreign corporations have stepped in to block it," Ms Supapan said.

She said the new law was urgently needed to prevent new smokers as the existing tobacco control law, which has been in force for over two decades, was being undermined by marketing strategies.

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