A group of hospitality traders in Kisumu County has voiced opposition to a proposal that would raise the minimum smoking age to 21, arguing that the change is impractical.
During a public participation event regarding the Tobacco Control (Amendment) Bill in Kisumu on Saturday, the traders expressed concerns about the proposal’s intent and the challenges of implementing such a law.
This proposal emerged from a stakeholders’ forum in Nairobi earlier in the week, organized by the National Assembly Committee on Health, where many participants supported the idea.
Dr. James Nyikal, the Committee Chairperson, noted that there was a general agreement among stakeholders about increasing the age limit for purchasing nicotine products from 18 to 21. He expressed satisfaction that this consensus would streamline their work as they review submissions.
However, Dan Ouma, Chairperson of The Pubs, Entertainment and Restaurants Association of Kenya (PERAK) in Kisumu, questioned the feasibility of the proposal. He stated, “Raising the smoking age from 18 to 21 poses challenges. It’s unclear how they plan to enforce this. Will consumers need to show ID cards when buying these products? Are new IDs required? The implementation details remain vague.”
The traders also raised concerns about the Bill’s proposal to restrict the sale of tobacco and nicotine products within 100 meters of areas frequented by children. They argued that current tobacco laws already provide for designated smoking zones to address this issue.
Additionally, they criticized the proposal for requiring specific licenses for tobacco trading from counties, stating that this would increase business costs, as they already pay for single business permits.
The National Assembly Committee on Health wrapped up public participation on the Bill in Kisumu and Nanyuki on Saturday and will now compile a report that includes feedback from various stakeholders across the country.
