Tobacco smoking is dangerous to health. Smokers are liable to die young. These are some of the warnings that have been given regarding cigarettes and their consumption. But has that stopped people from smoking? No. Would it stop people from smoking? Another no.
Well, the South African government is about to enforce legislation that will put a tighter grip on cigarette consumption in the Rainbow Nation.
The Department of Health, through the Tobacco Products and Electronic Delivery Systems Control Bill, is determined to tighten its grip on where smokers decide to light up and better safeguard public health, including that of children.
For instance, with the legislation, a stricter anti-smoking rule is in place with violators potentially spending up to 15 years in jail for violating the rules. Smoking in public spaces isn’t allowed, A ban on indoor smoking – including in private households – is also targeted by the bill. Smoking in an environment where there are children, selling tobacco to them, or else encouraging their consumption of tobacco is something the draft legislation frowned on as well.
If and how well the legislation is implemented is a different ball game. For smokers, it is not yet uhuru. Stay tuned if you please.
