Minimum-age rise sought

The minimum age for buying tobacco products in Guam will rise from 18 to 21 if a new bill is passed by the country’s parliament, according to a story in The Guam Daily Post.

At the same time, an amendment could see fines for the sale of tobacco products to underage individuals double.

The bill is the latest attempt by speaker Benjamin Cruz to increase the legal smoking age from 18 to 21.

The amendment was put forward by the Republican senator Fernando Esteves during a legislative session on Tuesday.

“The fines right now are so minimal, it’s fairly antiquated, it’s barely a slap on the wrist,” Esteves said.

Under the original bill, a retailer who sold a tobacco product to an underage individual would be liable to a fine of up to $500. Under the amendment that fine would increase to $1,000.

The amendment would mean that, for a second violation, the fine would increase from $1,000 to $2,000; for a third violation, it would increase from $2,500 to $5,000; and for a fourth violation it would increase from $5,000 to $10,000.

“One of the problems we have when we come up with laws is enforcement … giving [laws] a little bit of teeth,” Esteves said. … “People have a tendency to get in line when it affects their pocket book.”