The sale of betel nut to minors has now been made illegal in the Northern Marianas.
Betel Nut, or Buai Photo: Banni Pulikottil CC BY 2.5
House Bill 19-65 prohibits the sale of Areca Nut, or betel nut, to any person under the age of 18.
Among other provisions, the bill requires businesses to post signs in bold letters announcing the law and it enforces fines ranging from $US100 to $US500 as well as revocation of the license to sell betel nut.
The bill comes amid public health concern of rising oral cancer cases in the community.
Studies conducted in 2003 and 2009 by the International Agency for Research on Cancer confirmed that betel nut chewing, with or without tobacco, significantly increases the risk of oral cancer.