Ban on individual cigarette sales 'would help cut teenage smokers'

[Lite Beer]

Ban on individual cigarette sales 'would help cut teenage smokers'
THE SUNDAY NATION

BANGKOK: -- MORE than 200,000 young Thais buy cigarettes one at a time because they can't afford to buy packs of 20, a public-health researcher from Mahidol University has revealed.

Saranya Benjakul cited a 2011 survey that found more than 400,000 Thais aged between 15 and 18 were smokers.

The poll results were revealed as the government gets ready to pass a new tobacco-control bill into law.

Each day, young people smoke about 1.6 million cigarettes, she said, adding that prohibition of the sale of individual cigarettes would help reduce the number of new smokers.

Nanthawan Wichitwathakarn, a public-health lecturer at Thammasat University, urged tobacco business operators to stop objecting to the ban on sale of individual cigarettes in the bill for the sake of children.

She said the sale of cigarettes to those aged between 15 and 18 amounted to Bt1.8 billion a year.

Nanthawan said the sale of individual cigarettes was encouraging young people to smoke because they could not see the warning messages and disgusting pictures on cigarette packs.

The sale of individual cigarettes has already been prohibited in 97 countries, including Laos, Singapore and Brunei, she added

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Ban-on-individual-cigarette-sales-would-help-cut-t-30257914.html

[crazygreg44]

she does not suggest a method that would help bringing these sales to an halt. Or have you ever noticed a Thai calling the heat on somebody for offering a cigarette to another Thai , young or old ? Thais don't denounce each other.

Control freaks in politics . . .

[Toknarok]

There is already a law prohibiting the sale of cigarettes to persons under 18. That is what should be enforced. Many adult Thais if they cannot afford a whole packet buy singles.

[Strangebrew]

It is against the law to sell single cigarettes in the US The fine is very heavy along the right to sell them after being caught. But yet I seen 8 and 9 year kids go in to store local Thai operated store buy beer for parents. what's up with that?

[mania]

It is against the law to sell single cigarettes in the US The fine is very heavy along the right to sell them after being caught.

Yes being choked to death for selling "loosies" is a pretty high price to pay

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/12/03/the-policies-behind-eric-garner-s-death.html

[h90]

it is not allowed to sell below 18. Now it is not allowed to sell single cigarettes.....So it is double illegal....

[WitawatWatawit]

Dear K. Saranya. This ban on single ciggie sales was put into force by health authorities more than 10 years ago. At the time they said it would be "seriously enforced", accompanied by the usual words "vow" and "promise". So this is no longer an issue. Where do you get your information from?

Signed,

Sinny Cool.

[zydeco]

I've been to plenty of small individual owned snack/restaurant stands. It is standard practice to take a pack of cigarettes and break them down into four or five in a plastic bag. Some people simply cannot afford to buy a pack of cigarettes.

[Commerce]

A virtually impossible task in Thailand. Who will monitor every small family shop in Thailand, and how?

Thais do not split on each other, they keep out of each other's business; and it's not like parents are particularly bothered of not.

No family or parent would report a shop for selling singles, and to under 18s.

That would be like reporting your neighbour's kids for not wearing a helmet - It aint gonna happen.

[zydeco]

A virtual impossible task in Thailand. Who will monitor every small family shop in Thailand, and how?

Thais do not split on each other, they keep out of each other's business; and it's not like parents are particularly bothered of not.

No family or parent would report a shop for selling singles, and to under 18s.

That would be like reporting your neighbour's kids for not wearing a helmet - It aint gonna happen.

This is simply a case in which the people at the top have no understanding of the scale at which most of the Thai economy operates for the vast majority of people.

[hkt83100]

This is about as ridiculous as the alcohol selling times. Enforce the rules about minimum age for the sales, done and dusted.

[Commerce]

This is about as ridiculous as the alcohol selling times. Enforce the rules about minimum age for the sales, done and dusted.

See post #9.

[loong]

If they actually succeeded in banning the sale of single cigarettes, the young smokers will simply move on to the cheap 5 Baht tobacco with no filters.

[ezzra]

Do like Australasia did to eradicate smoking, raise the price of cigarettes so mush that people has stopped

smoking out of financial considerations rather the health concerns...

[Shiver]

While it would be better that none of us smoked, teenagers do like to try out things that aren't allowed or are frowned upon by society. I can't see this working at all, even if it were possible to enforce it.

[English 1]

No way it will work...

They will get the Cancer Sticks regardless.

​Try telling a Thai thats it's stupid to Smoke.....Not interested as they DO NOT KNOW THE WORD 'NO' from the age of 2.....

​No parental discipline whatsoever.

Get to be teenagers on Motorbikes....No change in Brain Power...'I can do...I can get across before that speeding car gets me!'

Oh Bye Bye Hello Wat Chimney.

​Monks make a fortune on funerals and hiring out Tables and Chairs for the booze up after !!!

[gandalf12]

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A virtually impossible task in Thailand. Who will monitor every small family shop in Thailand, and how?

Thais do not split on each other, they keep out of each other's business; and it's not like parents are particularly bothered of not.

No family or parent would report a shop for selling singles, and to under 18s.

That would be like reporting your neighbour's kids for not wearing a helmet - It aint gonna happen.

Dont split on each other, really? Have you seen the reports when one gets caught stealing something? He doesnt have to be asked who helped him they are all too ready to tell who was with them

[teatree]

Allowing the sale of single cigarettes actually reduces smoking.

You buy a couple of ciggies, smoke them and when you fancy another you have to get up off your arse and buy some more.

When you buy a pack of 20 you smoke a couple, but then you still have a nearly full packet staring at you, and you smoke another one, and another and another until you are hooked and smoking a pack a day as a habit.

I know if the law allowed the sale of single cigs when I was a student i would have smoked far less.

[Gonsalviz]

A virtual impossible task in Thailand. Who will monitor every small family shop in Thailand, and how?

Thais do not split on each other, they keep out of each other's business; and it's not like parents are particularly bothered of not.

No family or parent would report a shop for selling singles, and to under 18s.

That would be like reporting your neighbour's kids for not wearing a helmet - It aint gonna happen.

This is simply a case in which the people at the top have no understanding of the scale at which most of the Thai economy operates for the vast majority of people.

Foreign NGO's push this crap. There are many laws on Thailand's books that simply economically

impossible to enforce.

[Gonsalviz]

_{Then I would be forced to buy an entire pack of disgusting cigarettes when I can only stand 1.}

[Gonsalviz]

How many of you whiner expats understand that if Thailand had all of the wonderful laws and enforcement that you enjoy so much in your country would be living here?

I think there would be no need for you to have ever come here at all?

[BudRight]

Do like Australasia did to eradicate smoking, raise the price of cigarettes so mush that people has stopped

smoking out of financial considerations rather the health concerns...

Australia also created a giant black market in the process. It was also a 'You are not welcome' sign to non-Australian smokers thinking of visiting.