Cigarette traders jailed

Three people in Fiji have been jailed for failing to pay fines imposed on them for selling loose cigarettes, according to a story in The Fiji Sun Online.

Altogether, since July last year, 400 people are said to have been booked and issued with spot fines for failing to comply with tobacco control regulations.

The story said that the ‘strong and effective’ measures implemented by the government had led to a major decline in smoking among teenagers, as measured by the Global Youth Tobacco Survey (GYTS).

The current smoking prevalence rate among 13-15-year-olds in Fiji was said to be 5.1 percent: 6.8 percent in the case of males and 3.4 percent in the case of females.

The GYTS report of 1995 put the smoking rate among this age group at 10.4 percent.

Meanwhile, the story reported that the Ministry of Health and Medical Services had declared eight villages, 39 village community halls, a number of workplaces and all major markets tobacco free.

The ministry is now reviewing current tobacco legislation with an eye to making further amendments in relation to outdoor smoking restrictions and the illegal trade in tobacco products.