A Vietnamese lawmaker has proposed raising the minimum age for buying and using tobacco from 18 to 21, citing high smoking initiation rates among young adults.
A National Assembly deputy has called for Vietnam to raise the legal age for purchasing and using tobacco products to 21, arguing that existing restrictions fail to adequately protect young adults during the period when they are most likely to begin smoking.
The proposal was made on October 21 during parliamentary discussions on amendments to the Law on Prevention and Control of Tobacco Harms.
Nguyen Hai Long, a National Assembly deputy representing Da Nang, welcomed provisions in the draft legislation requiring tobacco sellers to verify customers' identities through identification cards or the VNeID digital identity system.
He also supported proposals to prohibit tobacco sales through digital platforms and ban tobacco product displays.
However, Long argued that retaining the current minimum age of 18 would leave a significant gap in efforts to prevent smoking initiation.
Smoking rates surge among young adults
National Assembly deputy Nguyen Hai Long of Da Nang proposes raising the legal age for purchasing and using tobacco products to 21. Photo: National Assembly Media
According to Long, most teenagers under 18 still live with their parents, attend secondary school and have limited personal income.
Parental and school supervision, combined with financial constraints, helps keep smoking rates relatively low in this age group.
However, circumstances change considerably once young people turn 18.
Many move away from home to attend university, live in dormitories or rented accommodation, or enter the workforce and begin earning their own income.
With greater financial independence, new social circles and legal access to tobacco, they may become more susceptible to taking up smoking.
Long cited figures showing that smoking prevalence among Vietnamese males rises from 5.46% among those aged 15-19 to 32.6% among those aged 20-24, an almost sixfold increase.
He also noted that approximately half of male daily smokers began smoking at age 19 or older.
According to the lawmaker, people who reach 21 without taking up smoking are considerably less likely to start later in life.
He pointed to international figures indicating that around 95% of smokers in the United States began smoking before turning 21. In Singapore, nearly 95% of smokers reportedly tried their first cigarette before that age.
Long argued that the period between 18 and 21 is particularly important for smoking prevention, yet neither the existing law nor the proposed amendments adequately address it.
"Young people who have not started smoking by the age of 21 will, for the most part, never smoke in their lifetime," he said.
He therefore recommended raising the minimum legal age for purchasing and using tobacco products from 18 to 21.
Stronger protection sought for people enforcing smoking bans
During the same discussion, National Assembly deputy Nguyen Van Ngoc of Lam Dong province highlighted weaknesses in the enforcement of smoking restrictions in public places.
National Assembly deputy Nguyen Van Ngoc calls for stronger legal protection for people who report violations of smoking bans. Photo: Pham Hai
He referred to an incident on September 17, 2025, at a cafe in Hanoi's Times City urban area.
According to Ngoc, a cashier was punched and knocked down by a companion of a customer after reminding the group three times that smoking was prohibited inside the establishment.
The incident, he said, exposed shortcomings in both tobacco control regulations and their enforcement.
Under existing legislation, managers of smoke-free premises have responsibilities relating to the enforcement of smoking bans.
However, cafe owners, restaurant managers, hospital security personnel and school principals generally do not have the legal authority to impose administrative penalties.
At the same time, managers of smoke-free premises can face fines of VND3 million to VND5 million if they fail to organize inspections and ensure compliance with smoking restrictions.
Ngoc described this as an inconsistency between the responsibilities imposed on managers and their actual enforcement powers.
He also noted that while citizens have the right to ask others to stop smoking in prohibited areas, the law does not provide sufficiently specific protections for people exercising that right.
As a result, some individuals choose to remain silent rather than confront smokers or report violations because they fear conflict or retaliation.
Ngoc proposed explicitly prohibiting threats, obstruction, retaliation, insults and physical attacks against people who remind others of smoking bans or report violations.
He also recommended clarifying the authority of managers at smoke-free premises.
Under his proposal, managers would be allowed to request that offenders stop smoking, record photographic evidence, document incidents and refer cases to commune-level police or other competent authorities.
Commune-level police should also be required to receive and promptly handle such reports, he said.
Vietnam considers expanding smoke-free areas
National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man also addressed proposed changes to smoking restrictions during discussions in the Ho Chi Minh City delegation.
National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man discusses the proposed expansion of smoke-free public spaces. Photo: National Assembly Media
He said the draft legislation includes a phased transition toward completely smoke-free indoor environments at establishments currently permitted to maintain designated smoking areas.
These include hotels, bars, karaoke venues, nightclubs and restaurants.
The proposed amendments would also add ships and trains to the categories of public transportation subject to comprehensive smoking bans.
Man emphasized that designated smoking areas must be clearly organized and appropriately located, with consideration for environmental conditions and the appearance of public spaces.
He also called for Vietnam to examine international approaches to tobacco control enforcement, including Singapore's strict penalties for improperly discarding cigarette butts.
However, he stressed that expanding smoke-free areas would require a clear implementation roadmap and reasonable transition periods.
Businesses should be given adequate time and support to adjust their operations, while enforcement measures must be implemented consistently.
The National Assembly chairman also called for stronger enforcement of the existing ban on tobacco sales to people under 18.
He urged tighter controls over tobacco sales conducted through e-commerce platforms, social media and digital applications.
The proposed amendments are intended to strengthen Vietnam's tobacco control framework, with lawmakers focusing on preventing smoking initiation among young adults, improving compliance in public places and protecting those who enforce smoking restrictions.
Vietnamnet.vn
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