Quitting tobacco? It’s child’s play

Children in a Nepalese village are making money from tobacco and liquor—but they’re not selling it, according to a story in The Himalayan Times.

Just the opposite, in fact, because the children, from ward number four of Laxmi Nagar Village Development Committee (VDC) in Doti, have started a campaign to make their village liquor- and smoke-free.

They have initiated a scheme whereby if anyone is found smoking or consuming alcohol he or she is fined NPR10.

To date, 1,750 violations have been recorded; so NPR17,500 has been deposited in the children’s fund.

However, the money won’t be spent on sweets, the consumption of which might be the subject of a fine imposed by adults. It will be given to children to buy stationery.

The campaign seems to be working. Locals, who used to make fun of the children, are said now to be helping them to reduce the sale and consumption of liquor and cigarettes in the village.

Parents are said to have ditched their bad habits following pressure from the children.