Administrative liability of juveniles for smoking

Abstract

The research relevance is determined by the prevalence of smoking among minors, as well as by the insufficient effectiveness of administrative liability measures taken against minors if they have committed an administrative offence – smoking in prohibited places. The research aims to determine the theoretical and legal features of administrative liability and to analyse the measures taken against juvenile offenders. The research aim was achieved by a comprehensive and in-depth analysis of Ukrainian and foreign scientific sources and provisions of current legislation. The author examines the peculiarities of administrative liability of minors for smoking. It is established that, according to the current Ukrainian legislation, administrative liability of minors for smoking may be imposed on persons aged 16-18 years, and the main measure is an administrative penalty (fine) paid by parents. The author provides arguments in favour of lowering the age limit for administrative liability of minors to 13-15 years. The author substantiates the expediency of educational influence on minors through pedagogical and social training aimed at solving the problem of tobacco use among minors. It is noted that such measures will be preventive in nature and will help to reduce the number of cases when minors smoke in prohibited places and will also contribute to solving the problem of smoking among minors in general. It is emphasised that the issue raised in this paper is not only legal but also pedagogical, social, and medical in nature. The practical significance of the results obtained is that they identify gaps in Ukrainian legislation and provide recommendations for improving approaches to the administrative liability of minors for smoking and addressing the problem of smoking among minors