Smoking is bad for health: Why is it not banned?
I refer to the report, “Public views sought on stricter tobacco control measures” (June 26).
Just as we do not see chewing gum in shops here but still buy it when we go overseas, smokers will be smoking and buying their cigarette packs when they run out even without point-of-sale displays of tobacco products.
Neither is price a factor for them to stop smoking. In recent years, I have started to see more and younger smokers. Some are secondary school students, smoking openly in the void decks near their schools.
More ladies are picking up the habit, too. They are aware of the health consequences, but do not seem to mind. Some family members smoke in front of children, and the perception that smoking is fine forms in the latter’s young minds.
If cigarette sales were to be banned, similar to the ban on chewing gum, it would definitely result in a reduction in the number of smokers.
Smokers may then smoke or buy cigarettes when they are overseas, but the ban would at least keep the young ones from picking up the habit.
Once the habit starts at an early age, it is hard to prevent its spread and to convince people to quit. Children these days do not yearn for chewing gum, partly because of the ban, and because some have not tried it yet.
My child asked me if chewing gum is banned because it is bad for us. Smoking is bad for health: Why is it not banned?
