Recto seeks stiffer penalties for sellers of alcohol, tobacco to minors
Published Dec 24, 2019 12:00 am
By Vanne Elaine TerrazolaÂ
Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto is seeking the imposition of stiffer penalties on persons and establishments that sell alcohol and tobacco products to minors.
Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto (MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO)
Recto filed Senate Bill No. 1208, which seeks to prohibit the use, possession, or access by sale or distribution of alcohol and tobacco, as well as heated tobacco and vapor products, to youth aged 17 and below.
In filing SB 1208, he noted that laws are already in place to protect the youth from the harmful effects of so-called "sin products" and to promote the health of the people.
Presidential Decree No. 1619 and Republic Act No. 9211, the Tobacco Regulation Act of 2003, were enacted to regulate the use, possession, and sale of alcohol and tobacco products, respectively.
The government also uses taxation to discourage the public from consuming the said products.
Congress recently ratified the bill proposing higher excise taxes on alcohol, heated tobacco, and electronic cigarette products starting 2020. The measure is up for President Duterte's signature.
"However, taxation might not be an effective deterrent to the consumption of sin products by the youth including minors as claimed by some health advocates," Recto said.
Under the Recto bill, facilitating the use, possession, or access by a minor to any alcohol and tobacco products; and selling or distributing the same to a minor, shall be declared illegal.
Any person or establishment convicted of committing the prohibited acts shall be fined from P100,000 to P500,000 and imprisoned for at least six years to 12 years.
If the prohibited act is committed by a juridical person, the penalty of imprisonment shall be imposed upon the manager, representative, director, agent, or employee who directly violated or caused, directed, cooperated or participated in the violation, the bill stated.
The measure, if signed into law, would task the Department of Health and the Department of Justice to promulgate the necessary rules and regulations for its implementation.
Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto (MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO)
Recto filed Senate Bill No. 1208, which seeks to prohibit the use, possession, or access by sale or distribution of alcohol and tobacco, as well as heated tobacco and vapor products, to youth aged 17 and below.
In filing SB 1208, he noted that laws are already in place to protect the youth from the harmful effects of so-called "sin products" and to promote the health of the people.
Presidential Decree No. 1619 and Republic Act No. 9211, the Tobacco Regulation Act of 2003, were enacted to regulate the use, possession, and sale of alcohol and tobacco products, respectively.
The government also uses taxation to discourage the public from consuming the said products.
Congress recently ratified the bill proposing higher excise taxes on alcohol, heated tobacco, and electronic cigarette products starting 2020. The measure is up for President Duterte's signature.
"However, taxation might not be an effective deterrent to the consumption of sin products by the youth including minors as claimed by some health advocates," Recto said.
Under the Recto bill, facilitating the use, possession, or access by a minor to any alcohol and tobacco products; and selling or distributing the same to a minor, shall be declared illegal.
Any person or establishment convicted of committing the prohibited acts shall be fined from P100,000 to P500,000 and imprisoned for at least six years to 12 years.
If the prohibited act is committed by a juridical person, the penalty of imprisonment shall be imposed upon the manager, representative, director, agent, or employee who directly violated or caused, directed, cooperated or participated in the violation, the bill stated.
The measure, if signed into law, would task the Department of Health and the Department of Justice to promulgate the necessary rules and regulations for its implementation.