TOBACCO-FREE GENERATION: A VISION FOR A HEALTHIER FUTURE FOR SRI LANKA

Tobacco kills. It often maims before it kills, as it is capable of harming all organs in the body. It robs the potential of its countless victims and their families. Children are particularly vulnerable to the influencing of the tobacco industry, which targets them as future smokers. The addictive nature of tobacco undermines the true freedom of choice of its users. Every year, thousands of young people in Sri Lanka become victims of its addictive grip.

- By Dr. Anula Wijesundere and Dr. Surantha Perera

Can we imagine a future where our children can grow up without the predatory shadow of tobacco looming over them? Are we determined enough to work for it?

The Tobacco-Free Generation is a policy initiative that bans the sale of tobacco to all individuals born after a specific year, for example, 2010. It is a concept rooted in ethical considerations that prioritise the health and well-being of future generations based on the principles of human rights and social justice. It ensures that children are not subjected to preventable harm. It will also ensure significant social and economic gains.

The concept of a tobacco-free generation is becoming a reality on the world stage with the government of the United Kingdom introducing the Tobacco and Vapes Bill, which prohibits the sale of tobacco to anyone born on or after January 1, 2009.

Our generation has a moral duty to protect those who come after us from the destructive effects of tobacco, particularly in marginalised communities which are disproportionately affected by smoking-related illnesses in Sri Lanka. Therefore, we strongly urge the government to implement a ban on the sale of all tobacco products to those born in or after the year 2010. This means that children turning 21 in 2031 or younger will never legally be able to purchase tobacco products. It will result in effectively raising the legal age of sale by one year annually until it applies to the entire population decades later.