Abstract:
Introduction: Sri Lanka was the fifth country in the South East Asian Region to sign the
Framework Convention for Tobacco Control (FCTC). National Authority on Tobacco and
Alcohol (NATA) Act No. 27 of 2006 is one of cost effective measures that Sri Lanka apply to
prevent issues regarding alcohol and tobacco use since 2006 under the FCTC. Objectives of
the Act, is identifying the policies on protecting Public Health, eliminating of tobacco and
alcohol related harm through the assessment and monitoring and make provision
discouraging persons especially children from smoking or consuming alcohol. This study is
considered only section 31 (1) of the NATA Act, which included ―A person not sell, offer for
sale, or permit or promote the sale of any tobacco product or alcohol product to any person
under twenty one years of age‖.
Objective: To determine the violation of section 31(1) of the NATA Act, regards to Alcohol
products.
Methodology: Cross sectional study design was used for the study. Observation method was
the data collection method. Data were collected in nine districts (n=45 registered alcohol
selling points) in Sri Lanka. Multistage sampling method was used to select sample from
registered alcohol selling points. An observation check list was applied as data collection tool
and volunteers between the ages of 18 to 21 were assisted (as decoy) to purchase alcohol
from selling points.
Results: Results indicated that 93.3% registered alcohol selling points were violated the
section 31(1) of the NATA Act.
Conclusion: Based on the study results, it is clear that implementation of section 31(1) of the
NATA Act, was less successful. Implementation of this legal provision of the NATA Act,
would be an enormous intervention to address alcohol initiation of adolescence in Sri Lanka.
Therefore, it is essential to take actions for implementing section 31(1) by responsible bodies
and authorized officers immediately.
