By inadvertently "paving the way" for her child, she exposed him to a toxic environment.
In daily life, it's not uncommon to see children as young as 7 or 10 running to the convenience store with loose change to buy cigarettes or lighters for their grandparents, fathers, or uncles. Many adults consider this simply a chore, a way to train children's agility, without giving a second thought to the psychological impact behind it.
When a child is frequently exposed to cigarette packs, smells cigarette smoke, and directly participates in buying and selling these items, cigarettes will gradually become "normal" in their eyes, an everyday item for adults.
Children's curiosity is easily stimulated. From helping someone hold or buy cigarettes, the distance between them and secretly trying a cigarette is incredibly thin. In fact, many teenagers start smoking at a very young age simply because of those times they went to buy cigarettes for adults in the house.
Sending children to buy cigarettes is an unwitting way for adults to expose their children to harmful environments at an early age, contradicting the efforts to prevent and combat the harmful effects of tobacco that the whole society is working together to build.
Fines to change perceptions
To protect children, Government Decree 90/2026/ND-CP dated March 30, 2026, on administrative penalties in the health sector, has set out very specific and strict regulations.
Accordingly, the act of using a person under 18 years of age to buy cigarettes will be fined from 500,000 VND to 1,000,000 VND. This means that any individual – whether a parent, relative, or stranger – who asks or instructs a child under 18 to buy this item can be subject to a written report and fine.
In addition, the Decree introduces a direct deterrent for young people. Specifically, the act of using tobacco products by individuals aged 16 to under 18 will be subject to a fine of VND 200,000 to VND 500,000.
The decree also clearly stipulates regulations on the sale and supply of tobacco products. Accordingly, a fine of VND 1,000,000 to VND 3,000,000 will be imposed for the act of not displaying a sign stating that tobacco products are not sold to persons under 18 years of age at the point of sale of tobacco wholesale and retail dealers. A fine of VND 3,000,000 to VND 5,000,000 will be imposed for the act of selling or supplying tobacco products to persons under 18 years of age.
These regulations form a tight legal "pincer": they prohibit adults from introducing children to tobacco products, forbid tobacco businesses from selling tobacco to those under 18, and directly deter teenagers from using these products.
Create a protective barrier to shield children from cigarette smoke.
Many might argue that a fine of 500,000 to 1 million VND for a single instance of a child being sent to buy cigarettes is too harsh, or wonder, "Who will be responsible for supervising and enforcing the law in every nook and cranny?" However, the ultimate goal of the law is not to collect fines, but to create a strong enough impetus to change the behavior and awareness of the entire population.
The law clearly stipulates that retail outlets and dealers are prohibited from selling tobacco to individuals under 18 years of age. If adults do not send children to buy tobacco, and grocery stores strictly adhere to refusing sales to children, we will create a strong protective barrier, isolating future generations from harmful tobacco smoke.
It's time for every adult, every parent, to seriously re-evaluate their lifestyle habits. Don't let a little personal convenience turn children into "carriers" of disease germs.
Let children grow up in a clean environment where cigarette smoke has no chance of influencing their perceptions or actions!
Source: https://baophapluat.vn/cham-dut-thoi-quen-sai-tre-em-mua-thuoc-la.html
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