In an initiate to discourage the kids from taking up smoking, the authorities have decided to amend the 1998 Tobacco Control Act.

It is reported that as per the amendments, more stringent rules would be introduced on the selling of cigarettes to children below 18 years. Also, the Solicitor General is all set to draft a Tobacco Control Decree, which would be introduced in the month of December. The implementation of the Tobacco Control Decree would ensure that the sale of cigarettes from private homes in Fiji would come to an end.

In the wake of the developments, one organization that has widely appreciated and welcomed the efforts is Save the Children in Fiji. Delighted with the announcements, the organization claims that children should not come face-to-face with the choice of adapting to smoke.

“To keep the children safe and let them to concentrate and to facilitate their education, I think it’s very important. And it’s not only the responsibility of the government, but I think of the society, the parents and everybody that we should ensure that our children don’t get into this bad habit”, asserted the Head of Save the Children in Fiji, Chandra Shekhar.

Mr. Rajeshwar Singh, Manager of Corporate and Regulatory Affairs at British American Tobacco in Fiji also applauded the strict regulations, and he claimed that the Decree would ensure that all the cigarette packets would also carry the graphic health warnings.