Thursday, March 6, 2008

teenage and social issues

Title of article: More young people caught lighting up in first two months
Author: By Teh Joo Lin & Chong Chee Kin
The Straits Times Tuesday, March 4 2008

In this article, the writer’s purpose is to raise awareness on the issue that more teenagers have been caught smoking. From the statistics shown, the number of people below the age of 18 caught smoking is increasing and the HSA is trying to curb the problem. From his findings, he felt that the main problem is that outlets are selling cigarettes to youths, and this encourages teenagers to smoke as cigarettes are made easily available. The writer supported his findings by providing information on the number of outlets caught selling cigarettes to minors

I do agree with the writer that one of the main reasons why there is a rise in teenage smoking offences is due to tobacco outlets selling cigarettes to youths without demanding their identification. When cigarettes are sold to youths, they are given a chance to smoke and making cigarettes easily available. This will hinder them from quitting smoking as the temptation to smoke is there.

However there may be other reasons which account for the rise in teenage smoking offences. It could be due to peer pressure. Firstly, someone can only start smoking if he is influenced to do so. He could be influenced by his peers or even his family. An example of influence from peers would be that as most teenagers grow up, they tend to want to be included in groups or cliques. They do not want to be an outcast, or be called a coward if they do not dare to do something. Hence, if their peers encouraged them to smoke, they will do it to prove they are brave and to be part of the group. An example of influence from family would be when a parent smokes in the presence of his child. As the child sees his parent smoke, he will follow suit and also smoke. Depression may also be a cause for teenagers to want to smoke. If a teenager has complicated feelings which he doesn’t dare to express, he may vent it out on smoking.

The writer highlighted that offenders will be fined and he also showed a rise in the number of retailers caught committing the offence and in the number of under-18s caught for smoking. This serves as a warning to others not to commit that offence.

In order to prevent the phenomenon of underage smoking, first of all tobacco stalls have to stop selling cigarettes to youths. Stall owners must be considerate and understand that they are harming the youths if they encourage them to smoke. In families, parents should set a good example for their children and not smoke in front of them. They should teach them from young the harmfulness of smoking. In front of peers, teenagers need to be stronger emotionally so that they can refuse enticement by their peers. They should bear in mind that once they start smoking, there is no going back. If teenagers feel depression, they should be counseled so that they will be self-confident and not easily fall into traps.

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