The Verkhovna Rada Commissioner for Human Rights, Dmytro Lubinets, has appealed to parliament to toughen fines for the sale of alcohol and tobacco to minors. In his opinion, the current sanctions are insufficient to prevent harm to children's health.
The ombudsman reported this on his Telegram.
Lubinets proposes to significantly increase fines
The ombudsman cited data from the National Police, according to which, from January 2024 to the end of October, law enforcement officers drew up 2,655 administrative protocols for the sale of alcoholic beverages and cigarettes to minors.
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Currently, for such an offense, sellers are subject to a fine of 400 to 800 non-taxable minimums, which is from 6,800 to 13,600 UAH.
Lubinets noted that the existing fines are insufficient and disproportionate to the harm that the use of these products causes to children's health.
Therefore, he initiated an appeal to the Verkhovna Rada Committee of Ukraine on Finance, Tax and Customs Policy, proposing to amend the legislation.
Lubinets insists on establishing new fines in the amount of 3 thousand to 15 thousand non-taxable minimums (51 thousand – 255 thousand UAH).
– Any desire to make money on children and harm their health require due responsibility. By working together, we will be able to form a healthy society, the ombudsman emphasized.
Earlier it was reported that Ukraine does not have a law that would directly prohibit the sale of non-alcoholic energy drinks to minors.
However, manufacturers put warnings on cans that such drinks are not recommended for children.
