KUALA LUMPUR: The Consumers' Association of Penang (CAP) reminded the government that the future of the country will be in jeopardy if it continues to allow the sales of tobacco products such as cigarettes and e-cigarettes.
CAP Education Officer N. V. Subbarow said this was because there was a growing number of students taking up the smoking habit as early as when they are in primary school.
He said this was based on information from school teachers shared with him.
He said nowadays even girls in schools were consuming flavoured or odourless vape and e-cigarettes during their toilet breaks as they do not want to get caught.
"They have tricks up their sleeves, but teachers do their best to catch them.
"To our surprise, some of the students admitted that have been smoking since a very young age and this is serious.
"As they grow older, when they want to seek more 'thrills' in life, they will then try taking drugs.
"The children are the future of the country and we must act now to save them," he told New Straits Times today.
Health experts have called for a ban on the sale of cigarettes and e-cigarettes in the country to protect public health, including against the risk of Covid-19.
Research has also shown that smokers and vapers have a higher risk of getting severe Covid-19 infection.
Research conducted by Stanford University School of Medicine in California, United States, last year revealed that a Covid-19 diagnosis was five times more likely among "ever-users" of e-cigarettes comprising adolescents and young adults aged 13 to 24.
It was also revealed that a Covid-19 diagnosis was seven times more likely among dual "ever-users" of cigarettes and e-cigarettes.
Subbarow said this was yet another strong reason for the government to ban the sales of such tobacco products.
"The government must priorise the health of the people rather than collecting taxes from tobacco products," he added.