Right to protection from alcohol, tobacco and narcotics

During the holidays, because there will be a lot of free time, you are likely to come into contact with bad company. You will find yourself being convinced or coerced into doing things that are illegal and that might jeopardize your future. Drinking alcoholic beverages and using tobacco is one example of an illegal activity that a child can undertake.Article 219 of the Penal Code of Rwanda provides for protection of children from people who encourage children to drink or use tobacco. According to article 219 of the Penal Code, the punishment stipulated for someone who offers or sells alcoholic beverages or tobacco to a child or involves him in the sale of such products is“a term of imprisonment of at least three (3) months but less than six (6) months and a fine of three hundred thousand (300,000) to one million (1,000,000) Rwandan francs or one of these penalties.” The penalties mentioned above, says article 219 paragraph two of the Penal Code, also apply to people who encourage children to drink alcoholic beverages, smoke or go to bars. A few examples of alcoholic beverages are; beer, wine, vodka, gin, tequila, whisky and rum and illegal local brew such as Kanyanga. Article 220 further protects children from being involved in the sale of harmful products such as narcotic drugs with a term of imprisonment of two (2) years to five (5) years and a fine of one million (1,000,000) to five million (5,000,000) Rwandan francs. Another illegal activity that you might get enticed into is the use of narcotic drugs. Narcotic drugs are very dangerous because they mess with people’s thinking process by creating a false sense of happiness, satisfaction and sometimes confidence.Examples of narcotics include morphine, cocaine, and heroin. In order to protect children from the use of such drugs, article 596 provides for penalization of any person who induces a child to use narcotic drugs in any way. The punishment is “a term of imprisonment of more than five (5) years to seven (7) years and a fine of five hundred thousand (500,000) to five million (5,000,000) Rwandan francs.” Alcohol, tobacco and narcotic drugs are not only illegal but they are very harmful and addictive. The enjoyment is temporary but the health effects are permanent. And because they mess with the thinking ability, they could lead you to making decisions that can permanently destroy your future. So better to stay away.

Education

Right to protection from alcohol, tobacco and narcotics