MANILA – A measure has been filed before the House of the Representatives which seeks to penalize those who will be caught selling alcohol products to minors.
Quezon representative Angelina Tan filed last week House Bill No. 2453, which slaps those who will be found guilty of selling or allowing minors to take alcoholic drink and beverages a P10,000 fine or imprisonment of not more than three months for persons.
In the pending measure, persons below 18 years old who will be caught purchasing or obtaining alcoholic drinks will be required to attend two consecutive sessions of barangay council seminars for the first and second offenses – with parents or guardians of the minor are also required to attend the seminar.
“Alcoholism and violence become key issue that requires urgent attention,” said Tan, who chairs the House’s Committee on Health.
Tan also pointed out a World Health Organization study that shows two of 10 Filipinos ages 15 to 18 drink alcoholic products – six out of 10 “are not content with two bottles” of it.
“It was imperative for State to initiate proactive policies to curb alcohol consumption by children and teens consistent with the Constitution’s mandate to ‘protect’ their physical, moral, spiritual, intellectual, and social well-being,” Tan said.
For succeeding violations committed, the minor will be handed over to the local Department of Social Welfare Development office for counseling and proper disposition of the issue./PN
