Stricter regulations for shopkeepers selling tobacco

A recent survey revealed that over two-thirds of Hungarian teenagers have tried smoking, and experts are worried that current anti-smoking regulations are not effective enough, writes business daily Világgazdaság.

"Despite current regulations, storekeepers continue to sell cigarettes to children under the age of eighteen," noted László Szigeti, secretary of a Hungarian anti-smoking society (ODE). "According to a survey, 72% of 16-year-olds have already tried smoking and 18% of them are smoking regularly."

In the secretary's opinion, there are several factors that turn young people into addicts, including the influence of smoking parents and teachers. In addition to enforcing the law on shopkeepers, Szigeti believes banning smoking from all educational institutions would also help decrease youth smoking.

"More than half of the storekeepers sell cigarettes to children," said Attila Kathi, the spokesman for the Hungarian Conservancy of Consumer Protection.

For this reason, Parliament passed a bill in summer to stiffen penalties for merchants. In addition to fines, the authorities can now restrict the sale of tobacco products and alcohol in shops that are found to have broken the law.

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