13 August 2007
In advance of the minimum legal age for tobacco sales rising from 16 to 18, ASH Scotland has written to members of the Scottish Parliament’s Health and Sport Committee, to express concern that effective enforcement is necessary if the move is not to be a wasted measure. The Committee is due to investigate the age change in September ahead of its implementation on 1 October. ASH Scotland Chief Executive Maureen Moore OBE said that for the age change to have any real effect, it must be supported by four clear strategies – enforcement, awareness, prevention, and cessation.
'ASH Scotland actively supports any initiatives that can reduce the harmful effects of tobacco so welcome the change in the minimum purchase age rising to the same as that for alcohol. Scotland has the highest rate of young smokers in Britain and 82% of under age children regularly buy their cigarettes from shops, so if this move can help reduce the numbers of young people in Scotland taking up smoking, and help others to quit, it should be fully supported.'As part of a package of measures to tackle smoking, the rise in purchase age could be effective. There is solid evidence that when properly implemented, age restriction laws can lead to a significant decline in the numbers of retailers selling cigarettes to those underage. However, this is only the case if the law is effectively implemented, and on this we believe the government has not yet provided enough detail. ASH Scotland believes that for the age change to have any real effect, the Executive must support it through four clear strategies – enforcement, awareness, prevention, and cessation.
'It is clear the current age restrictions are not being upheld. Adequate resources must be made available so that trading standards officers are able to fully support and enforce the law. In addition effective penalties and deterrents must be introduced so that retailers who do break the law are properly penalised and deterred. To this end, ASH Scotland believes a tobacco licensing scheme is necessary. A licensing scheme could be used as an enforcement tool so that retailers who sell cigarettes to anyone under age would not only face fines, but could also have their license suspended and ultimately revoked for repeated violation. This would be cheaper and quicker than the current costly court system and be an active deterrent when it comes to retailers who consistently sell to those underage.
'An awareness campaign is necessary to make those who sell and those who purchase tobacco aware of the new minimum purchase age. As part of that campaign, there must also be publicity about the ill-effects of smoking and where support to quit can be found. This should be aimed at all smokers under 18 and not just 16-17 year old smokers who will no longer be legally able to buy cigarettes.
'Prevention is the key area where government can really tackle Scotland’s high smoking rates and make an impact on the future health of our nation. By helping smokers who want to quit and by preventing others from ever starting, then Scotland can reduce the thousands of preventable deaths and illnesses caused by tobacco. The age change is a clear opportunity to prevent Scotland’s young people from becoming addicted to tobacco in the first place, by reaching them with messages about not starting to smoke as well as targeting young smokers with support about stopping smoking, and it is crucial it is not missed.
'The change in the minimum purchase age means anyone between 16 and 18 who currently legally buys cigarettes will not be able to do so in October and - with the other reported 70% of smokers who say they want to quit - they should be given all possible support in helping to stop smoking This is especially important for young people so we can try to reduce the numbers continuing to smoke into adulthood. However reaching teenagers – with both health messages and support services - can be difficult. It is therefore essential that the government do all they can to make young people aware of where they can seek advice and cessation services including NRT (nicotine replacement therapy), and that those services have the full resources to be able to target, engage with, and maintain cessation services for young people.
'ASH Scotland believes, if the steps above are taken, the change in purchase age could help reduce smoking rates. Scotland led the way in the UK in bringing forward effective protection against second-hand smoke by introducing a ban on smoking in public places. It showed a maturity in tackling Scotland’s public health record, has brought about benefits to Scotland’s health, and has been used by smokers as an impetus to quit smoking. But it is not enough to prevent our future generations from starting to smoke and becoming addicted to tobacco. A rise in the purchase age can help but effective implementation of the law is vital if this is not to be a wasted measure. If Scotland is to become a ‘healthier and fairer’ country and the public are to lead longer and fuller lives, then tobacco control must remain at the top of the public health agenda, and every opportunity to tackle smoking must be seized'.
Maureen Moore is available for interview.
ENDS
For further information please contact: Jeanette Campbell - 0131 220 9466.
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