Legal cigarette buying age to be raised to 20: Jurin

The Public Health Ministry plans to raise the legal age for buying cigarettes from 18 years old to 20 years old.

The decision was reached during the meeting of the National Cigarette Control Committee Wednesday. The meeting was chaired by Public Health Minister Jurin Laksanavisit.

The move was seen as the toughest measure so far to discourage smoking among youths.

The meeting Wednesday also came up with several tough measures to control smoking.

Among other things, cigarette vending machines and online vending will be banned, Jurin said.

Vendors will not be allowed to divide up the cigarette pack and sell by counting the cigarettes. Manufacturers will not be allowed to reduce the prices for marketing campaigns, Jurin said.

Jurin added that his ministry would also amend its directive to require manufacturers to change cigarette papers. The new paper type will make the cigarette automatically put out if the smokers do not smoke the cigarette for a period of time.

Jurin said Thailand will be the first country that requires cigarette to use the new safety paper. This kind of paper will prevent the problem of second hand smoking and fires caused by cigarettes left burning.

The Public Health will also amend its directive to prohibit manufacturers from mixing any substance into their cigarettes, Jurin said.