Determining the Violation of section 31(1) of the National Authority on Tobacco and Alcohol Act: Regarding Alcohol Products

Abstract

Introduction: Sri Lanka was the fifth country in the South East Asian Region to sign the Framework Convention for Tobacco Control (FCTC). National Authority on Tobacco and Alcohol (NATA) Act No. 27 of 2006 is one of cost effective measures that Sri Lanka apply to prevent issues regarding alcohol and tobacco use since 2006 under the FCTC. Objectives of the Act, is identifying the policies on protecting Public Health, eliminating of tobacco and alcohol related harm through the assessment and monitoring and make provision discouraging persons especially children from smoking or consuming alcohol. This study is considered only section 31 (1) of the NATA Act, which included ―A person not sell, offer for sale, or permit or promote the sale of any tobacco product or alcohol product to any person under twenty one years of age‖. Objective: To determine the violation of section 31(1) of the NATA Act, regards to Alcohol products. Methodology: Cross sectional study design was used for the study. Observation method was the data collection method. Data were collected in nine districts (n=45 registered alcohol selling points) in Sri Lanka. Multistage sampling method was used to select sample from registered alcohol selling points. An observation check list was applied as data collection tool and volunteers between the ages of 18 to 21 were assisted (as decoy) to purchase alcohol from selling points. Results: Results indicated that 93.3% registered alcohol selling points were violated the section 31(1) of the NATA Act. Conclusion: Based on the study results, it is clear that implementation of section 31(1) of the NATA Act, was less successful. Implementation of this legal provision of the NATA Act, would be an enormous intervention to address alcohol initiation of adolescence in Sri Lanka. Therefore, it is essential to take actions for implementing section 31(1) by responsible bodies and authorized officers immediately.