Rogue retailers must be tackled to reduce youth smoking

Tuesday 23 June 2009

ASH Scotland Chief Executive Sheila Duffy today said a report showing that teenage smoking rates remained the same as two years ago was disappointing. She called for stricter sanctions against retailers who were continuing to sell cigarettes to young people and called on local authorities to prioritise enforcement. The findings of the 2008 national SALSUS report published today show 57% of 15 year old smokers bought their cigarettes from shops, 16% from mobile shops, and 10% from vending machines. For 13 year old regular smokers the figures are 42%, 20%, and 13%. Commenting further Ms Duffy said:

“SALSUS is a robust survey of school pupils that is carried out every two years and shows not only the rates of teenage smoking but also their attitudes to smoking and where they obtain their cigarettes. 57% of 15 year olds report buying their cigarettes from shops, with 16% from mobile shops, and 10% from vending machines. Buying their own cigarettes still remains the main source for 15 year old smokers.

“This is the first SALSUS since the rise in minimum purchase age from 16 to 18 in 2007. I welcome a reduction in the numbers of children buying their cigarettes from shops but remain shocked that so many children as young as 13 are still able to buy cigarettes so easily from these sources. There is a clear need to crack down on rogue retailers who willingly sell cigarettes.

“The Tobacco Bill which is currently going through the Scottish Parliament can do that but it needs to be strengthened. It proposes stricter sanctions on retailers who sell tobacco to children by introducing a system of fixed penalty notices and banning orders for repeat offenders. It also proposes a register of tobacco retailers to enable information campaigns and enforcement activity to be much more targeted and effective. For the first time enforcement officers will have a register of the vans and shops that are selling tobacco and can crack down on those who are selling to our young people. However the Bill needs to be stronger and should require councils to enforce the law.

“We need to cut the pipeline of new young smokers to the tobacco industry by supporting a strong Tobacco Bill which can help prevent youth smoking.”

ENDS

Sheila Duffy is available for further comment and interview via ISDN. For further information please contact Rory Morrison on 0131 220 9469.

Notes for Editors

1. ASH Scotland is an independent Scottish charity working in partnership to protect people from the harm caused by tobacco. Registered Scottish charity number SC 010412.

2. The 2008 Scottish Schools Adolescent Lifestyle and Substance Use Survey (SALSUS) is the most recent of a series of school surveys used to monitor and measure smoking, drinking and drug use among young people in Scotland. The survey was carried out in autumn 2008 and was completed by over 10,000 pupils aged 13 years old and 15 years old across Scotland. The report is available in full at: http://www.drugmisuse.isdscotland.org/publications/local/SALSUS_2008.pdf

The key findings of the report are as follows:

Prevalence:

15% of 15 year olds smoke regularly (usually 1 or more cigarette a week): 14% of boys and 16% of girls. (In the previous 2006 survey 15% of 15 year olds were regular smokers: 12% of boys and 18% of girls.)
4% of 13 year olds smoke regularly: 3% of boys and 4% of girls. (In the previous 2006 survey 4% of 13 year olds were regular smokers: 3% of boys 5% of girls.)
There was an increase between 2006 and 2008 in the % reporting that they had never smoked from 47% to 51% in 15 year olds, and from 69% to 75% in 13 year olds.

Where pupils obtain cigarettes

57% of 15 year old regular smokers reported buying cigarettes from a shop. (In the previous 2006 survey this was 82 %.)
42% of 13 year old regular smokers reported buying cigarettes from a shop. (In the previous 2006 survey this was 47 %.)
10% of 15 year old regular smokers reported buying cigarettes from a vending machine. (In the previous 2006 survey this was 10 %.)
13% of 13 year old regular smokers reported buying cigarettes from a vending machine. (In the previous 2006 survey this was 10 %.)
16% of 15 year old regular smokers reported buying cigarettes from a van. This is the first time this question has been posed in SALSUS.
20% of 13 year old regular smokers reported buying cigarettes from a van. This is the first time this question has been posed in SALSUS.

Dependence

41% of 15 year old regular smokers and 49% of 13 year old regular smokers reported that they wanted to give up. (In the previous 2006 survey this was 49% of 15 year olds and 45% of 13 year olds.)