http://www.straitstimes.com/Breaking+News/Singapore/Story/STIStory_383682.html
More youths puffing illegal cigs
By Mavis Toh
Singapore Customs released figures of underage youths caught smoking illegal cigarettes at its 2009 World No Tobacco Day roadshow at Bugis Junction. --ST PHOTO: LIM WUI LIANG
THE allure could be its cheaper cost.
Illegal cigarettes - where no taxes are paid and which are smuggled in - could be half the price of duty-paid smokes.
That could explain why more people below age 18 are puffing on contraband cigarettes. Last year, 656 youths were busted, up from 649 in 2007.
In the first four months of this year, 153 youths have been nabbed.
There has also been a spike in the number of underage youths caught peddling illegal cigarettes - from two in 2007 to 11 last year. In the first four months of this year, two were caught.
These figures were released by Singapore Customs at its 2009 World No Tobacco Day roadshow at Bugis Junction on Saturday.
'The prevalence of youth caught with illegal cigarettes remains a concern. Not just because cigarettes are harmful, underage youth caught with them are also committing serious Customs offences,' said a Customs spokesman.
Read the full report in The Sunday Times.
More youths puffing illegal cigs
By Mavis Toh
Singapore Customs released figures of underage youths caught smoking illegal cigarettes at its 2009 World No Tobacco Day roadshow at Bugis Junction. --ST PHOTO: LIM WUI LIANG
THE allure could be its cheaper cost.
Illegal cigarettes - where no taxes are paid and which are smuggled in - could be half the price of duty-paid smokes.
That could explain why more people below age 18 are puffing on contraband cigarettes. Last year, 656 youths were busted, up from 649 in 2007.
In the first four months of this year, 153 youths have been nabbed.
There has also been a spike in the number of underage youths caught peddling illegal cigarettes - from two in 2007 to 11 last year. In the first four months of this year, two were caught.
These figures were released by Singapore Customs at its 2009 World No Tobacco Day roadshow at Bugis Junction on Saturday.
'The prevalence of youth caught with illegal cigarettes remains a concern. Not just because cigarettes are harmful, underage youth caught with them are also committing serious Customs offences,' said a Customs spokesman.
Read the full report in The Sunday Times.