A section of Kisumu County hospitality traders has opposed a proposal to raise the minimum age for smoking to 21 years, citing impracticality and unclear implementation. The traders questioned the motive of the proposal, which was raised during a stakeholders' engagement forum in Nairobi hosted by the National Assembly Committee on Health. They expressed concerns about how such a law would be enforced.
The proposal to raise the minimum age limit for nicotine and tobacco consumers arose during a stakeholders' engagement forum in Nairobi, where sections of stakeholders expressed concurrence on the issue. Committee Chairperson Dr James Nyikal said there seemed to be agreement on increasing the age of consent to purchase nicotine products from 18 to 21. He noted that this would simplify the committee's work when considering submissions.
Dan Ouma, Chairperson of the Pubs, Entertainment and Restaurants Association of Kenya (PERAK) in Kisumu, challenged the practicality of the proposal. He asked how consumers would be verified, whether they would need to produce ID cards, and if new IDs would be required. Ouma argued that the implementation of the proposal is unclear and would be difficult to enforce.
The traders also took issue with the Tobacco Control (Amendment) Bill's proposal to restrict the sale of tobacco and nicotine products to within a 100-metre radius of places with children. They argued that existing tobacco laws have established smoking zones, which address this concern. The traders believe that the new proposal is unnecessary and may not be effective.
Furthermore, the traders faulted the Bill's business licensing proposal, which would require tobacco-trading-specific licences from counties. They argued that this would increase the cost of doing business, as they already pay for single business permits. The traders believe that this proposal would unfairly burden them with additional costs.
The National Assembly Committee on Health concluded public participation on the Bill in Kisumu and Nanyuki and will now compile its report, including submissions from stakeholders across the country. The committee will consider the concerns raised by the traders and other stakeholders before making a final decision on the proposal.
The debate on the Tobacco Control (Amendment) Bill highlights the challenges of balancing public health concerns with the interests of businesses and individuals. The proposed changes aim to regulate the sale and consumption of tobacco and nicotine products, but their implementation and impact on various stakeholders remain to be seen.
Key points
- Traders in Kisumu oppose the proposal to raise the minimum smoking age to 21, citing impracticality and unclear implementation.
- The proposal to restrict the sale of tobacco and nicotine products near places with children is also being contested by the traders.
- The traders argue that the business licensing proposal would increase the cost of doing business and is unfair.
