News

Laura Redpath, Senior Reporter

Underage tobacco smoking continues to be an issue in Jamaica, according to a senior guidance counsellor at the Ministry of Education.

Senior counsellor Eugenie Brown spoke at a Carreras Limited media briefing yesterday, supporting the launch of the second part of the tobacco company's youth smoking-prevention campaign.

"I'm sure you're well aware that currently in our education system, even at the primary level, we have youngsters who are engaged in smoking," Brown said.

She pointed out that the education ministry's guidance counselling unit works on educating students on substance-abuse and this includes smoking.

Carreras Limited is a cigarette marketing and distribution com-pany in Jamaica. In recognition of yesterday's World No Tobacco Day, and following up on its youth campaign launch in 2008, it launched the youth smoking-prevention campaign.

Minors smoking

Corporate affairs executive Ashleigh Robotham said the cigarette company addressed approximately 2,500 retailers, making them aware of the dangers of selling cigarettes to minors.

"We have that commitment from our business partners and with the reintroduction of the programme. We will again be seeking to have this dialogue with our business partners to ensure they do not sell cigarettes to minors," she said.

Christopher Brown of Carreras' corporate and regulatory affairs said the company has trade marketing representatives who will communicate with retailers so they understand underage smoking is governed by legislation.

"Those trade marketing representatives will be actively ensuring the retailers understand the whole issue of not selling to minors," he said.

However, the Carreras spokes-man was unable to say exactly how retailers will be policed to make sure they do not sell to minors.

Brown said: "I can't speak to law enforcement, the authorities will then have to take up that matter."

Child Development Agency's director for policy planning and evaluation, Audrey Budai, commended the cigarette distributor for "its foresight" in protecting minors from access to cigarettes.

laura.redpath@gleanerjm.com