Scots get serious about underage smoking

May 3 2006

In the next round in the fight against smoking the sale of cigarettes to people aged under 18 is expected to be banned in Scotland.

A group of experts established by the Scottish executive the 'Smoking Prevention Working Group', is proposing to recommend that the age at which it is legal to buy cigarettes and other tobacco products be raised from 16 to 18.

If implemented, the ban would mean an amendment to the 2005 Smoking, Health and Social Care Act that initially introduced the ban on smoking in public.

It is estimated that in Scotland one in four girls and one in eight boys aged 15, smoke on a regular basis.

Ministers believe that leaving the age limit at 16 implies that smoking is not as dangerous as drinking because a person must be 18 to buy alcohol.

The working group was set up in an attempt to tackle the high number of children, especially girls, who are taking up the habit despite the fact that it is illegal to sell cigarettes to under-16s.

A member of the working group says Scotland is leading the United Kingdom in its campaign against the dangers of smoking.

They would ideally like to see the ban introduced as soon as possible as tobacco has become an intrinsic part of ordinary everyday life.

Doctors in Scotland called for the age limit to be raised after the Scottish Schools Adolescent Lifestyle and Substance Use Survey, published last year, found that 6% of 13-year-olds were regular smokers, with nearly two-thirds buying cigarettes from shops.

The survey found that by the age of 15, almost 20% smoke regularly and 86% say they purchase cigarettes from shops, this is despite retailers facing a £2,500 fine if they are convicted of breaking the law.

The group is also recommending a ban on packets of 10 as a way of stopping young people from taking up smoking.

Deputy health spokesman of the Scottish National Party, Stewart Maxwell, whose member's bill at Holyrood formed the basis for the smoking ban in Scotland's pubs, clubs and restaurants, is backing the working group's recommendation and welcomes the ban.

Changing the legal age is a relatively straightforward procedure and the law can come into force 40 days after the process is completed.

Forest, the smokers' lobby group, says they agree with the recommendation and say smoking is for adults and not for children.

But they say the law on selling cigarettes to under-16s is not properly enforced and if politicians are serious they must ensure the law is enforced.