THE sale of single cigarettes could be stopped as a way of curbing underage smoking.
The Tobacco Control Enforcement Unit said in a statement that tackling underage smoking was a complex issue, especially for enforcement officers.
The unit said that minors caught smoking in public transport in the past weeks bought the cigarettes from private homes and bean cart vendors.
Under the Tobacco Control Act 1998, tobacco cannot be sold to minors, those under the age of 18 years.
The statement said retailers could be fined $1000 if caught selling to minors.
It said the Government signed and ratified the International Public Health Treaty in 2004, which was supported by the World Health Organisation.
It is called the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control.
"The Ministry of Health Tobacco Control Enforcement Unit is looking into amending the current legislation to include the articles of the FCTC," the statement said.
The amendments proposed by the unit are the prohibition of sales of single cigarette rolls, introduction of tobacco control licensing system, minimum packet size to be sold and other necessary amendments to strengthen the provisions of the act.
A bean cart vendor at the Suva Bus Stand said he stopped selling cigarette rolls to minors ever since the Tobacco Control Act came into effect.
However, the vendor, who wished to remain anonymous, said it was hard to tell the students' ages, especially if they did not come in their school uniform.
The vendor said that even in uniform, some students give money to adults to buy the cigarette rolls for them.
Police public relations officer Atunaisa Sokomuri said the tobacco control unit handled the responsibility of monitoring shopkeepers and vendors.
