With a few exceptions soft drinks contain an addictive drug called caffeine. Coffee and tea also contain caffeine. There is a difference, however. The caffeine in coffe beans and tea leaves is usually extracted with water at the time of sale and consumption. The caffeine in sodas is added at the factory for the sole purpose of generating an addiction, thereby increasing sales and brand loyalty.

Cigarettes contain the addictive drug nicotine. The cigarette makers refer to them as "drug delivery devices." They are aware of the danger of smoking. Yet the entire industry is based on creating an addiction in every person in Malaysia.

There are no exceptions, regardless of hypocritical campaigns such as the one earlier this month in which the youth and sports minister participated with the tobacco companies in a "Stop Smoking You Young People" campaign. The advertising directed at our youth continues without abatement.

Both caffeine and nicotine are known to be addictive. The caffeine cannot be tasted by the consumer, so why is it there if not to create addiction to the sugar water product. The sales of carbonated sugar water are brisk, and there is great profit in the business. Water is free, sugar in a 12 ounce can costs under five cents, and the packing is not expensive. The disposal of the cans and plastic containers is, however, a public burden.

The addition of caffeine or any other addictive drug to sodas should be prohibited by law. It is a hidden drug, and does nobody any good. So why allow it to be added?

In France in the 1890's there was a fad of drinking Vin Mariani, which was a wine drink which had cocaine added. A pharmacist in Atlanta, Georgia USA sold a cough syrup which contained cocaine. He sometimes served it as a carbonated drink he called Coca-Cola. It became popular, and he refused to reveal the "secret formula" of its ingredients.

But it is impossible to conceal the contents of anything from analytical chemists, and it was soon well known that Coca-Cola contained cocaine, which had known side effects including addiction. The city of Atlanta outlawed the use of cocaine in 1903, so the "secret ingredient" and the company changed to caffeine, another addictive drug. It is still there, almost a hundred years later. A major portion of the sales of Coca-Cola today come from the international division, which,. of course, includes Malaysia.

While it is easy to ban the caffeine in sodas [no one would miss it], it is not so easy to remove cigarettes from the marketplace because there are many who are already addicted. Yet there things which can be done. Local authorities have the right to ban sale within their city limits, forcing the smokers to purchase elsewhere. Stiff increases in the taxes deter sales.

It is unlawful to buy or sell cigarettes to youths under the age of 18. Therefore there should be no addicts under this age. If the age for legal purchase is raised by one year each January 1st, in a decade the limit will be 28, and two years later it will be 30. It is unknown what age is appropriate to allow sale and purchase, but if the law allows the ban to be raised to age 40 or fifty the health of Malaysians will be significantly improved. The drain on health facilities and health professionals will be much less. The life expectancy of Malaysians would increase.

There is no good argument for allowing the sale of cigarettes to continue. Nothing can be said for the tobacco companies themselves, who knowingly sell a product that is strongly linked to lung cancer, emphysemia, arterio-coronary problems and slow wound healing. Patients requiring major surgery have less risk and faster recovery if they are not smokers.

The Health Minister, the Consumers Association of Penang and the Malaysian Medical Association have called for a total ban on the sale of cigarettes. This is the ugly side of globalisation. If the government is sincere in its statements of concern for the welfare of the public, then now is the time to demonstrate it with appropriate action.

Malaysia is spending millions on foolish stunts to attract the world's attention. Instead they find us a nation of fools and deceivers who claim false or meaningless achievements as being number one in the world. Are there any countries which have totally banned the sale of cigarettes to protect their youth? Is there a country which has law prohibiting the addition of caffeine to soft drinks? Perhaps here is an opportunity to be first in an area which will truly get the world's admiration.