Brunei's Local News - Brudirect.com

Bandar Seri Begawan - Various authorities are joining forces to curb the negative effects of tobbacco use in Brunei, in ensuring the effective enforcement of the Tobacco Order.

A retail shop cashier in Kpg Mata-Mata, Gadong told The Brunei Times that they do not sell cigarettes to just anyone anymore.

"I encountered a situation whereby a boy wanted to purchase cigarettes claiming that it was for his father. I declined to sell it to him and requested that his guardian come down and purchase it himself," she said.

"We strictly do not sell cigarettes to underage customers and we usually request the customers to show their identity cards to prove that they are of legal age to buy the cigarettes," said the cashier.

The youthful cashier also said that they will stop selling cigarettes altogether in the near future to support the government's initiative for a "smoke-free environment".

Another shop which no longer sells cigarettes is a Hua Ho retail shop in Gadong, which has a poster saying "Kami Tidak Menjual Rokok Di Sini" (we do not sell cigarettes here) displayed behind the payment counter.

To support people who wish to be free from smoking, the Ministry of Health opened the Stop Smoking Clinic Services in June 2006 at Anggerek Desa in Berakas and the Seria Health Clinic.

"In Brunei-Muara, we have two Stop Smoking clinics, one in Anggerek Desa and one in the Jubilee Perak Health Centre in Sengkurong. These clinics are open to all smokers - Brunei citizens or non-Bruneian citizens - who are keen to stop smoking," a source from the Stop Smoking Clinic at Anggerek Desa said.

"We set up these clinic services way before the Tobacco Order. There is no increase or decrease in the number of people coming in to the Stop Smoking Clinics, the number has been constant," she said.

Services offered are in the form of counselling, which is carried out every Thursday afternoon, and treatments such as providing nicotine patches to patients.

The Stop Smoking Clinic in Seria also provides such services for the people in the Belait district.

"We encourage all those people who have the initiative to stop smoking to come and register for counselling and treatments." The representative from the Seria Health Clinic added that various campaigns and exhibitions were held at the Oil and Gas Discovery Centre in Seria this year, as well as in various sports complex in the district to promote awareness on the negative impacts of smoking. Similarly, the Stop Smoking Clinic in Seria holds a counselling session every Thursday for registered patients.

Currently, the Stop Smoking Clinics are providing all counselling sessions as well as treaments for free.

"However, after 15 to 16 days (since the day I stopped), I started to smoke again because it is addictive. During the fasting month, I managed to stop smoking but in the near future I am uncertain whether I will continue to smoke occasionally or quit smoking for good," he said.

Difficulties in the attempt to quit smoking were also shared by Norazimah, a 25-year-old university graduate.

"I started smoking when I was in sixth form. I do have the intention to quit smoking, but it is just too difficult. Not easy to quit for a heavy smoker like me," she said. -- Courtesy of The Brunei Times