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NATA proposes 24 years as legal age for liquor, tobacco purchases

30 Dec 2021

  • Chairman states ‘full brain development’ at 24
  • SL would be first to implement such age limit
BY Pamodi Waravita National Authority on Tobacco and Alcohol (NATA) Chairman Dr. Samadhi Rajapaksa said yesterday (29) that the NATA hopes to increase the legal age to purchase alcohol and tobacco from 21 years to 24 years.  Speaking at a NATA Advocacy Programme Panel Discussion held yesterday, he stated: “We hope to increase the legal age to 24 years because medical science has proven that 24 years is the proper age when the brain is fully and correctly developed. We will be the first country to make it 24 years.” He added that they hope to propose this amendment to the NATA Act No.27 of 2006 in 2022, as part of a wider range of reforms that are occurring to update the existing law and regulations. Earlier this year, the NATA said that it has conducted a public survey that has shown that 65% of respondents support the ban of the sale of single-stick cigarettes, and that over 50% of respondents do not believe that cigarettes should be legal in the country. Section 31 of the NATA Act presently holds that a person shall not sell any tobacco product or alcohol to persons below 21 years.    Presently, there is also ongoing litigation concerning eligible females having the right to purchase alcohol and work in liquor-selling establishments.


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