Amid concerns from health experts about the long-term health and economic impacts of tobacco use, a proposal has been put forward to create Sri Lanka’s first “tobacco-free generation” by prohibiting people born after 2010 from purchasing tobacco products.
Supported by the Alcohol and Drug Information Centre (ADIC), the proposal seeks to ban the sale of tobacco products to anyone born on or after January 1, 2010. Unlike existing age-based restrictions, the proposed measure would remain in effect throughout the lifetime of the affected generation.
The initiative, titled “Creating a Tobacco-Free Generation by Preventing the Sale of Tobacco Products to Individuals Born After 2010,” is among the key tobacco-control measures recommended by ADIC.
If implemented, people born in 2010 would not be legally permitted to purchase cigarettes or other tobacco products even after reaching the current legal purchasing age. The restriction would also apply to future generations born after the specified date.
Sampath de Seram, Executive Director of the relevant organisation, said the Ministry of Health is expected to introduce a special mechanism to identify individuals born after 2010, with the system scheduled to take effect in 2031.
