Smoking kills

Ailsa Rutter, director of the Smoke Free North East campaign group, was commenting on the Governments decision to make it illegal to sell tobacco to under 18s from October 1.

On the day a Department of Health campaign to inform retailers and the public about the new restrictions was launched, Ms Rutter said: Raising the age of sale to 18 years of age makes buying cigarettes consistent with other age-restricted sales such as alcohol, and it sends a clear message that tobacco is a lethal product.

Ms Rutter said tobacco products kills one in two users and any measure to prevent children from taking it up in the first place are to be welcomed.

By raising the age of sale, children will be delayed from experimenting. The longer we can get them to delay, the less likely they are to take up smoking.

Changing the legal age of the sale of tobacco follows the introduction of the Smokefree legislation on July 1st 2007 and is aimed at reducing smoking prevalence rates among young people which currently stand at around 9 per cent of 11-15 year olds1 and 26 per cent of 16-19 year olds.2 Help is at hand for teenagers wanting to quit, with the NHS providing a range of options through the NHS Smoking Helpline on 0800 169 0 169 and www.gosmokefree.co.uk.

Retailers that stock tobacco will have a legal obligation not to sell to under 18s and will risk prosecution and a fine of up to 2,500 if they do so.

Association of Convenience Stores chief executive, James Lowman, said: "The Government's campaign must ensure that everyone knows what is expected of them when the law changes. Retailers will be the front-line defence against under 18s buying tobacco and this campaign will help them to do this job. We welcome the opportunity to work with the Department of Health to ensure customers are aware of the change and that no one is caught by surprise on 1st October."