As part of efforts to reduce school dropout rates and improve public health, a Battambang NGO has launched a community-driven campaign to curb the sale of alcohol and cigarettes to minors.
According to Great Peace Cambodia (GPC), a local non-governmental organization, the initiative, launched on May 30, marks a critical first step in tackling the issue of underage substance use and its detrimental impact on education.
The campaign began with a ceremony which launched new signage at eleven shops near target schools in Battambang town and Bavel district. The stores have voluntarily agreed to refrain from selling alcohol or cigarettes to individuals under the age of 18.
Kong Ponleu, education project manager of GPC, explained the rationale behind the initiative.
“Our project aims to prevent students from dropping out of secondary school. We have observed that in addition to socio-economic factors, personal issues, including the use of cigarettes and alcohol, contribute to school dropout rates,” he said.
“By partnering with shopkeepers near schools, we hope to create a safer, healthier environment for students,” he added.
Before the project was launched, he explained, surveys indicated that 20 per cent of young people were drinking alcohol or smoking.
While the current effort is localised, Ponleu said the director of the Battambang Department of Education, Youth and Sports has expressed an interest in expanding the initiative across the province.
He noted that this expansion will require careful planning and coordination with provincial leaders and educational authorities.
Ponleu acknowledged that the government has been proactive in improving health and education standards.
“Recent policy initiatives include the introduction of a standard school model and a comprehensive health education policy that regulates the sale of food and health-related items in and around schools,” he told The Post.
He sees GPC’s efforts as a complementary step to these government initiatives, and encouraged other schools to adopt similar measures.
In line with these efforts, the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports recently announced a ban on the use of e-cigarettes, vapes, and heated tobacco products on and around public and private campuses.
The measure, introduced on May 24, aims to prevent the promotion of these products and stop young people from being enticed into using them, particularly through social media channels.
The ministry’s guidelines emphasise that e-cigarettes and vapes are not effective smoking cessation tools.
Instead, it claimed that they pose significant health risks, including an increased risk of cancer, lung disease, heart disease and brain dysfunction, adding that they affect the brain development of children and adolescents in particular.
To enforce the ban, the ministry has issued instructions to various educational authorities.
Schools will intensify their efforts to combat the use of vapes through increased education and strict bans. Both educators and students will be informed about their harmful effects, while the use, sale or advertising of vapes is banned on and around school premises.
Schools are also working with parents, guardians and other stakeholders to report distribution sites to the authorities for legal action.
Yong Kim Eng, president of the People Center for Development and Peace, praised the Battambang initiative, but emphasised the need for stricter enforcement.
“Their efforts to address these issues are commendable. However, the voluntary nature of this test limits its effectiveness,” he said.
“If it were a regulation or an official directive, it would have a greater impact. Provinces can start trial plans in any sangkat or commune, but making it voluntary is not as effective as making it the law,” he added.
The education ministry has previously issued proclamations regarding the use of alcohol, tobacco, and unhealthy foods on school campuses.
Kim Eng said however, that these announcements do not extend beyond school boundaries, leaving local authorities responsible for addressing these issues in their communities.
He acknowledged that some local administrations, such as those in Banteay Meanchey province’s O’Chrov district, as well as one provincial governor – in Kampong Speu province – have already taken measures to remove all alcohol advertisements, demonstrating the power of local governance in controlling alcohol and cigarette sales to underage buyers.
“The authorities of the provincial councils have the right to issue orders not to sell alcohol and cigarettes to underage buyers, but the crucial factor is whether they choose to exercise this authority,” Kim Eng told The Post.
He noted that during a May 21 national conference, stakeholders, including legislators, relevant ministries, local authorities, and community representatives, agreed to accelerate the enactment of the law on alcohol control.
“They called for an acceleration of the law on alcohol control, and the conference issued a resolution urging relevant institutions to speed up the law, including encouraging local authorities to issue warnings to vendors,” he said.
Kim Eng has been a vocal advocate for stricter regulations on alcohol and cigarette consumption in Cambodia.
He highlighted the need for a legal minimum age for alcohol consumption, suggesting an age limit of 21 to reduce traffic accidents and health issues associated with alcohol abuse.
He also supports the establishment of more alcohol checkpoints and higher taxes on alcohol to discourage excessive consumption.
Additionally, he advocates for replacing alcohol advertisements with culturally appropriate and beneficial content, such as promotions of Cambodian culture and tourist attractions.
The Youth Situation Analysis Report, which surveyed 1,000 respondents aged 10-24 across Cambodia, sheds light on the health behaviour of the nation’s young population.
The analysis was conducted in December 2022 by the Havas Barefoot team with funding from UNFPA, UNICEF, WFP, and UNAIDS.
“While nearly all young people are aware of the harmful effects of alcohol and smoking, with 97 per cent acknowledging the dangers, 22 per cent still consume alcohol, and 5 per cent of males aged 15-24 smoke cigarettes,” the study revealed.
The report highlighted the discrepancy between awareness and behaviour, particularly during social gatherings, underscoring the need for more effective health education and intervention strategies to curb these risky behaviours.