Teens puff away their youth

Do you know what your offspring gets up to after dropping them off at the mall during the school holidays?

Following the heated debate on social media after photos were published on the News’ Facebook page of illegal under aged smoking and drinking at a local shopping mall in Krugersdorp, the News decided to pay a visit to the popular hang out spot during the holidays.

Arriving at a skate park at a well-known mall, the News saw small groups of teenagers smoking publicly while the rest enjoyed the skate park.

The groups sit casually at the tables and chairs outside the entrance, showcasing their ‘hubbly bubbly’ pipes as friends come and go to take a puff.

A few girls, who is clearly younger than 18, were seen lighting up a cigarette and smoking as shoppers pass them going into the mall.

The big notice board on the side of the building clearly states that no alcohol, tobacco products or illegal substances are permitted at the park, but where is mall security?

In the initial article, the mall’s management responded saying they vowed to act strictly against those who do not adhere to the rules, yet the underage smoking simply continues.

The ‘hubbly bubbly’ is treated the same as tobacco products and is only to be used by persons over the age of 18.

An article on the Cancer Associations of South Africa’s (Cansa) website busts the myths around the smoking of the ‘water pipe’ and states that it is worse than the smoking of cigarettes:

“WHO (World Health Organisation) has found that a water pipe smoking session, which typically lasts between 20 to 80 minutes, may expose the smoker to more smoke (and its harmful effects) over a longer period of time than when smoking a cigarette. Cigarette smokers typically take 8 to 12 (40 to 75ml) puffs over about five to seven minutes and inhale 0.5 to 0.6 litres of smoke. In contrast, a water pipe smoker may take 50 to 200 puffs a session, which may range from 0.15 to one litre of smoke per puff. The water pipe smoker may therefore inhale as much smoke during one session as a cigarette smoker would inhale consuming 100 or more cigarettes,” reads the statement.

Another trend the Sector 3 Community Policing Forum (CPF) has picked up on recently is the use (inhale) of gas found in canned products such as Spray&Cook and lighter gas by teenagers lurking around malls after dark.

Could the high rate of missing children cases be linked to the rebellious acts of underage drinking and smoking among teenagers who hang out at shopping malls?

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