Though the legislation bans selling cigarettes and alcohol to children, the Chisinau traders continue to do so. In a news conference at IPN, a group of volunteers of the public association “Young People for the Right to Life” presented a video showing how they buy alcohol and cigarettes in shops. The vendors do not ask for identification papers from them to see if they turned 18 even if the legislation provides for this. The volunteers called on the Government to toughen up the penalties for traders who break the law.  

Deputy head of the National Participation Council Antonita Fonari said the experiment was filmed in order to show how irresponsible the sellers are. The idea of making the film and examining this situation appeared after the August road accident in which eight young people died. It was presumed that the driver was under the influence.

The volunteers of the association “Young People for the Right to Life” said they purchased cigarettes and alcohol at the market and from stores. Cristian, 15, said he met with different reactions of the traders during the experiment. “However, most of the vendors sold me the products I asked for, even if I’m a minor. I think that if the Government makes effort, it can verify if the traders obey the law or not,” he stated.

“There are many young people who give the last money for cigarettes and alcohol as they feel more courageous and superior when they use them,” said Dan, 16.

Marina, 18, said the Government must protect the children by raising the price of alcohol and tobacco. “The children can be influenced. They don’t know what is good and what is bad. Thus, the parents and teachers should protect them from these bad habits,” she stated.

National Participation Council member Ghenadie Turcanu said that after the August accident that claimed eight lives, the Government took measures to prevent such situations. The Council and the volunteers of the association “Young People for the Right to Life” called on the Government to discuss this issue in the next meeting and to decide what steps to take.

Under the Code of Administrative Offenses, the sale of tobacco products and alcoholic beverages to minors is fined 1,600 to 2,400 lei in the case of private individuals and 4,000 to 7,000 lei in the case of legal entities. In both of the cases the culprits are banned from working for a period of three months to one year.