Shanghai to ban underage sales of cigarettes, alcohol
By Cao Li (China Daily)
Updated: 2005-01-07 00:21

Most children in this city can still get their hands on cigarettes and alcohol as this metropolis prepares to introduce a regulation banning their sale to under-18s.

That is the finding of a survey recently conducted by the Sunshine Community Youth Centre under the Communist Youth League of China's Shanghai Committee.

Nearly 8 per cent of the surveyed youngsters said they were never asked their age when purchasing alcohol or cigarettes.

"Only three youngsters, constituting actually only 0.8 per cent of all those interviewed, said they were asked every time they went to buy such products," said Zhou Jianjun, an official from the centre.

The survey interviewed a total of 386 youngsters who buy alcohol or cigarettes.

"Underage youth can still get easy access to cigarettes and alcohol, even in those shops with signs warning against selling them to under-18s," said Zhou.

A man selling cigarettes and alcohol at his small grocers on the city's Songshan Road said that although he was aware of the upcoming regulation, he questioned how it was possible to tell the age of the youngsters.

"Kids now look more mature than before."

The survey also found out that approximately 47 per cent of the youngsters bought alcohol or cigarettes for their parents.

Six 17-year-olds from Shanghai Holmes Changle College, who were stopped on the city's Middle Huaihai Road, said they still bought alcohol or cigarettes very frequently for their parents.

"It's my duty to help my parents," said one of the youngsters.

They all claimed to be unaware of the regulation.

Lu Ying, a student claiming to be over 18, said he knew about the regulation, but had often bought cigarettes and alcohol when he was younger.

The regulation, approved by the Standing Committee of the Shanghai Municipal People's Congress on November 25, clearly forbids the sale of alcohol or cigarettes to people under 18.

"But it doesn't include any exact measures on how to implement it, or the penalty for failing to observe it, which could greatly hamper its effect," said a legal expert who wished to remain anonymous.

"Although 68.7 per cent of youngsters expressed their support for the regulation, 73.6 per cent of them doubted whether it would effectively stop such illegal behaviour," said Zhou.

Gu Donghui, a professor from the city's Fudan University, suggested an identity card check and stipulating of penalties to help implement the regulation.

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