THE Macuata Provincial Youth Council wants the new constitution to legalise the consumption of yaqona and the smoking of cigarette at the age of 21.
This is because the council believes many young people engage in such activities which cause laziness at a very young age.
In presenting the submissions of Caumatalevu youths in Labasa this week, council member Peni Rakanace said the excessive consumption of yaqona and cigarettes resulted in a lack of productivity, poor time management and poor health conditions.
"Marriage and fertility rate are also low because the youths are inactive," he said.
Despite the State's effort to make education free, Mr Rakanace said parents still struggled to send their children to school because they had lost interest in their studies.
"Some students lose interest in their school work because they are attached to smoking and drinking grog.
"They opt to stay at home and this leads to an increase in unemployment."
Mr Rakanace said the constitution should include the provision of employment opportunities and more rural training centres.
"In order to control the rate of unemployment, markets should be available so youths can be encouraged to make use of natural resources to farm and other means to generate income," he said.