Alcohol and tobacco: NATA ready to tighten screws

NATA Chairman Dr. Samadhi Rajapaksa says that amendments will be be introduced to the National Authority on Tobacco and Alcohol Act (No. 27 of 2006) soon to ban the sale of single cigarettes and 180 ml (quarter) bottles of liquor.

Addressing a workshop on preparing an action plan to curtail the use of tobacco and alcohol for countrywide health education officials at Waters Edge Hotel in Battaramulla last week, Dr Rajapaksa said that NATA hoped to introduce revolutionary measures within the next five years to ensure that the country was safe from the harm caused by alcohol and tobacco.

He said that existing laws would be changed to empower the legal framework to curtail alcohol and tobacco use and to introduce new policies. The powers vested in Medical Officers of Health, Assistant Medical Officers of Health and Customs officers would be enhanced to make their services against alcohol and tobacco effective.

Dr Rajapaksa said that certain persons smoke in public places even though they knew they were violating the law. He added that stringent legal action should be taken against them. As per the law, enclosed public places were smoking free zones. Laws would be changed to ban smoking in all public places, he said.

Dr. Rajapaksa said that sale of products made from betel and areca nut would be regulated. As per the existing law, the sale of betel with tobacco was banned but that law was not properly enforced.

The sale of 180 ml bottles of liquor had increased in the recent times and consequently anti-social activities had increased. Empty bottles were discarded haphazardly. 

He recommended that tax on tobacco and alcohol should be increased. Even though the government received more revenue via the consumption of those items it would decline if taxes were increased. However, health hazards caused to people could be minimised.  

“Increasing the taxes on alcohol and tobacco is a strategy approved by the World Health Organisation to reduce their consumption. However, the businessmen here found a method to ensure the access of low income by selling cigarettes single (loose) and by promoting quarter bottles of 180 ml liquor.”

Director of Health Promotion Bureau Dr Palitha Karunaprema also addressed the workshop.