7 September 2007
ASH Scotland Chief Executive Maureen Moore OBE has today [Friday] welcomed BMA Scotland’s Action Plan to tackle teen smoking in Scotland, saying effective enforcement of tobacco sales was crucial if underage smoking was to be tackled seriously.
'We are in total agreement with BMA Scotland when they say that the minimum purchase age for tobacco rising from 16 to 18 is to be welcomed but more must be done to tackle teen smoking. The percentage of underage smoking has reduced but still remains high, especially amongst girls, and Scotland has the highest rates within the UK. It is clear that we must find a way to reach teenagers and stop them taking up smoking and to help those who have started to quit.'If we want to seriously tackle underage smoking and protect our future generations from starting to smoke, we must back the age change with effective enforcement or it will be a wasted measure. It is crucial that the law is upheld and ASH Scotland agree with BMA Scotland that a positive tobacco licensing scheme should be introduced so that shopkeepers who sell cigarettes to our children can be effectively penalised. 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.
'We must also tackle the promotion of cigarettes too. The introduction of out of sight tobacco sales would remove one of the key ways tobacco companies promote their brands to young people and effectively remove from view an addictive substance that remains the number one risk to Scotland’s health.
'However 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 reported 70% of smokers who say they want to quit 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.'
Maureen Moore is available for interview.
ENDS
For further information please contact: Jeanette Campbell 0131 220 9466 / 0777 6142299
Notes to editors:
View our other latest press releases