Proposals to crack down on smoking amongst teenagers were recently unveiled by public health minister Caroline Flint. As part of the consultation you have the chance to add your views on the proposals.
Plans include increasing the minimum legal age to purchase tobacco and imposing tougher sanctions on retailers who persist in selling cigarettes to under-age teens. The consultation runs from Monday 3rd July to Monday 9th October 2006. Read the full blog to find out details of the proposals and how you can add your views.
Smoking among young people is a major local health issue in Gateshead, where survey data estimates that 36% of 15 year old girls smoke compared to 21% across England as a whole. Fewer 15 year old boys smoke, but the percentage in Gateshead (18%) is still higher than the average figure for England (14%).
About nine per cent of all children aged between 11 and 15 smoke and the Government is determined to reduce this figure further. Raising the legal age to 17 or 18 would make it easier for retailers to spot under-age smokers and lead to a fall in the number of teenagers who get addicted to nicotine and continue to smoke into adulthood.
It is hoped that bringing the legal age for the purchase of tobacco into line with that of alcohol would reinforce the dangers of smoking to young people as well as helping retailers to comply with the law. It would also bring England and Wales into line with Canada, Australia, New Zealand and the US.
Evidence shows that nearly 70 per cent of 11 to 15 year old smokers say they buy their cigarettes from small shops such as newsagents and corner shops. This suggests that existing sanctions for retailers who break the law such as advisory visits or written warnings are not stringent enough to act as a deterrent to rogue retailers.
Proposals to toughen up these sanctions include prohibition orders banning repeat offenders from selling tobacco. This would be a major new penalty, particularly for shops who rely on tobacco sales for much of their turnover.
Public Health Minister Caroline Flint said:
“Smoking is dangerous at any age, but the younger people start, the more likely they are to become life-long smokers and to die early. Someone who starts smoking aged 15 is three times more likely to die of cancer due to smoking than someone who starts in their late twenties.
“Access to cigarettes by under 16s is not as difficult as it should be and this is partly due to retailers selling tobacco to those under the legal age. If a particular shop is known locally as the place for children and teenagers to easily buy tobacco, we want to stop that shop selling it.
“These proposals demonstrate our determination to reduce the number of teenagers from smoking thereby reducing the number of people with preventable diseases and the incidence of health inequalities.�
The Government is inviting views from the public, the retail industry, local authorities and stakeholders on these proposals, set out in a consultation paper published today. Follow the link to read the full paper "Consultation on Under-Age Sale of Tobacco".
The consultation will run from Monday 3rd July to Monday 9th October 2006. Those who wish to submit their views should email underagesales@dh.gsi.gov.uk or write to
Age of Sale Consultation,
Health Improvement Directorate,
Department of Health, Room 712,
Wellington House,
133 -155 Waterloo Road,
London SE1 8UG
Comments (4)
Lambeth did a project which involved the local newsagents putting sleeves over popular cigarette brands pack when they were sold them. The sleeves advertised the Stop Smoking Service telephone number, which they said increased the volume of calls by 500%.
Could this work in Gateshead?
Posted by Julie | August 2, 2006 3:30 PM
The Greater Glasgow Health Board used the same idea. In areas where smoking prevalence was thought to be high, they asked newsagents to hand out "cigarette coupons" when selling cigarettes. The "coupon" contained contact details for the local Stop Smoking Services. I have shared the idea with the local Gateshead and South Tyneside Stop Smoking Service.
See separate blog for a link to an image of the "coupon" used in Glasgow.
Posted by Andy | August 7, 2006 10:45 AM
can someone please advise as to the correct age for someone to beable to purchase cigarettes.this morning my fiancee who is 25 tried to buy cigareetes in our local store only to be asked for id.when questioned the sales assistant stated the police in our area(stanley co-durham)have made the legal age to buy at 21. can they do this as i thought it was 16.
Posted by nick | August 27, 2006 11:01 AM
Nick,
Andy Graham of FRESH NE, the regional tobacco control campaigning group comments:
"Not aware of this. The Govt. consultation makes provision to raise the age to 18 only. The only thing I can think of is that it may be the 'Challenge 21' scheme, which is being adopted by Local Authorities across the country and primarily tackles alcohol. This seems to be causing some confusion with regard to cigarettes as retailers, ASDA for one, are currently publicizing it in relation to tobacco. I have attached an explanation below:
The Challenge 21 initiative encourages retailers and licencees to seek proof of age from anybody who appears to be under the age of 21. The scheme was introduced because it was recognised that it can be very difficult to assess the age of a young person and to identify accurately whether someone is 17, 18, 19 or 20 but is usually easier to determine whether someone is 21. If a retailer suspects a young person is under 21 years old, then identification should be requested. If the person does not have the relevant identification e.g. passport, photo driving card, connexion card, citizen card they will not be served alcohol."
I hope this answers your query
Andy Billett, Public Health Analyst, Gateshead PCT
Posted by Andy Billett | August 29, 2006 3:11 PM