28 February 2008
ASH Scotland’s Chief Executive Sheila Duffy today [Thursday 28 February] said she welcomed the joint publication of a new guide for organisations who want to see a reduction in the sales of tobacco to under 18s. Reducing Tobacco Sales to Young People has been published by the Society of Chief Officers of Trading Standards in Scotland (SCOTSS) and ASH Scotland at a meeting of the Tobacco Control Issues Group in Edinburgh. Commenting on the publication of the guide Ms Duffy said:
“Reducing Tobacco Sales to Young People has been produced with input from Trading Standards Officers, health promotion specialists and representatives of retail associations. The guide shows that reducing sales of cigarettes to young people and improving Scotland’s health is a community effort and that we can all do more to help achieve these aims. This innovative guide outlines how a number of agencies and organisations that care for the health of children can play their part and shows that partnership working can help enhance enforcement work.
“There are good reasons behind why we need to prevent our teenagers starting to smoke. Evidence shows the younger you start smoking, the more you tend to smoke in adulthood, the harder it is to quit, and the more harm is done to your health. A child who starts smoking at age 14 or younger is fifteen times more likely to die of lung cancer than someone who never smokes.
“Although teenage smoking rates have decreased in Scotland over the last few years, smoking remains a problem with 15% of 15 year olds regular smokers. Of those, a massive 82% get their cigarettes from shops and recent test purchasing exercises have shown that nearly a third of shops will make illegal sales to under 18s. Whilst there are many responsible retailers who will always ask for proof of age, there is no doubt more must be done to ensure the law is upheld and young people protected.”
Commenting on the publication, SCOTSS Chairman David Thomson said:
“This guide should be warmly welcomed by all those working to reduce young people’s access to or use of tobacco. It helps make the connections between the prevention and enforcement roles of those involved in this important issue and should enable us to tackle it more effectively.”
Reducing Tobacco Sales to Young People will be distributed to the Chief Officers of Trading Standards in Scotland, Community Health Partnerships, and retailer organisations.
ENDS
For further information please contact Jeanette Campbell 0131 220 9466
To arrange an interview with Sheila Duffy please contact Jeanette Campbell 0131 220 9466.
To arrange an interview with David Thomson, Chair of SCOTSS please contact him on 01292 616055 or 07808 731829.
Notes for editors
View our other latest press releases