I HAVE also noticed the trend of underage smoking ("More students caught smoking; schools install detection devices"; Monday), and there seems to be more young female smokers now than there were a decade ago.
Last year, I called the neighbourhood police centre when I saw a group of teenagers, with some still in uniform, smoking at a void deck. The officer assured me that the matter would be looked into.
However, some 40 minutes later, the teenagers were still at the void deck and there was no sign of any police officers.
Is underage smoking a low-priority concern for the police? Or should such offences be reported to another agency?
Parents and other adult family members should set good examples to children and not smoke. Children are likely to pick up this habit from a young age if they see adult family members smoking.
The media, especially television, could also play a more active role to educate our youth and the public on the ill effects of smoking and alcohol drinking.
Where possible, local TV programmes and movies should not portray scenes of smoking and alcohol drinking. Otherwise, an advisory note should be flashed on-screen.
There should be a collective national effort to educate the public on the negative effects of smoking and alcoholism.
Muhammad Dzul Azhan Haji Sahban
Last year, I called the neighbourhood police centre when I saw a group of teenagers, with some still in uniform, smoking at a void deck. The officer assured me that the matter would be looked into.
However, some 40 minutes later, the teenagers were still at the void deck and there was no sign of any police officers.
Is underage smoking a low-priority concern for the police? Or should such offences be reported to another agency?
Parents and other adult family members should set good examples to children and not smoke. Children are likely to pick up this habit from a young age if they see adult family members smoking.
The media, especially television, could also play a more active role to educate our youth and the public on the ill effects of smoking and alcohol drinking.
Where possible, local TV programmes and movies should not portray scenes of smoking and alcohol drinking. Otherwise, an advisory note should be flashed on-screen.
There should be a collective national effort to educate the public on the negative effects of smoking and alcoholism.
Muhammad Dzul Azhan Haji Sahban
