COFFEE shop owners are not happy with the government’s move to pass a law to stop the sale of tobacco products or smoking devices to those born from 2007.

The Malaysia Singapore Coffee Shop Proprietors’ General Association said such a move would severely impact the entire coffee shop sector in the country.

Its president Wong Tue Hoon urged the Health Ministry to reconsider the proposed law as it criminalised consumers of legal age while also killing the entire coffee shop sector and forcing consumers to smoke illegal cigarettes.

“The interest of good taxpayers like us was not considered, while smugglers get to profit from this.

“The government should remain cautious as the illegal cigarette market will continue to rise once this policy comes into effect.

“Instead, a nationwide education campaign on cigarettes should continue in a bid to create awareness among the younger generation,” he said in a statement.

Yesterday, the Control of Tobacco Product and Smoking Bill 2022, which provides for, among others, the prohibition of smoking, buying or possessing tobacco products or smoking devices by individuals born in 2007 onwards, was tabled for its first reading in the Dewan Rakyat.

According to section 17 of the proposed act, no person who was born on January 1, 2007 onwards shall smoke any tobacco product or a substitute tobacco product; use any smoking device; or possess any tobacco product, smoking substance, substitute tobacco product or smoking device.

Under the generational endgame law, individuals born during the period who purchase tobacco products, smoking substances and substitute tobacco products or smoking devices may face a fine not exceeding RM5,000, if convicted. – July 28, 2022.