The Chairman of the Coalition for a Tobacco-Free Palau says changing people's betelnut habits will be tough and youth need to be targeted more.
Kambes Kesolei says he expects that the Ministry of Health's move to ban it on their premises is likely to be met with strong opposition from all sectors of the community.
He says many adults prefer to chew it with tobacco as it is a popular habit among many locals that has been culturally accepted and encouraged for years.
"We know that its not going to be easy as chewing is part of our culture and people will say why are you fighting our culture. But we just have to explain it well to the public. there are health consequences down the line and in turn it can be costly."
Kambes Kesolei says the peer pressure to start chewing betelnut among youth is much stronger now and knows of children as young as five who are already betelnut chewers.
