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Cigarette buying age to increase | Cigarette buying age to increase |
(about 7 hours later) | |
The Scottish government is expected to increase the legal age for buying tobacco from 16 to 18 in October. | The Scottish government is expected to increase the legal age for buying tobacco from 16 to 18 in October. |
The move was backed by the previous Scottish Executive and will also come into force in England and Wales. | The move was backed by the previous Scottish Executive and will also come into force in England and Wales. |
Anti-smoking group Ash Scotland supported such a decision, but said a tobacco licensing scheme was needed for the policy to be effectively enforced. | Anti-smoking group Ash Scotland supported such a decision, but said a tobacco licensing scheme was needed for the policy to be effectively enforced. |
The announcement will be made by Public Health Minister Shona Robison during a visit to a primary school in Dundee. | The announcement will be made by Public Health Minister Shona Robison during a visit to a primary school in Dundee. |
Recent Scottish Executive figures claimed there had been reductions in the number of schoolchildren who smoked in the last two years. | |
Retailers who sell cigarettes to anyone under age must be properly penalised Maureen MooreChief executive, Ash Scotland | Retailers who sell cigarettes to anyone under age must be properly penalised Maureen MooreChief executive, Ash Scotland |
Ash Scotland chief executive Maureen Moore said: "Scotland has the highest rate of young smokers in Britain so I hope this will help reduce the numbers of young people in Scotland taking up smoking." | Ash Scotland chief executive Maureen Moore said: "Scotland has the highest rate of young smokers in Britain so I hope this will help reduce the numbers of young people in Scotland taking up smoking." |
But she added: "If the new purchase age is to do any good then effective enforcement of the law, backed by tobacco licensing, is vital. | But she added: "If the new purchase age is to do any good then effective enforcement of the law, backed by tobacco licensing, is vital. |
"Retailers who sell cigarettes to anyone under age must be properly penalised." | "Retailers who sell cigarettes to anyone under age must be properly penalised." |
The executive statistics indicated that 4% of 13-year-olds and 15% of 15-year-olds were regular smokers. | The executive statistics indicated that 4% of 13-year-olds and 15% of 15-year-olds were regular smokers. |
However, smoking by 13-year-olds had declined since 1998 from 9% to 3% among boys, and from 11% to 5% among girls. | However, smoking by 13-year-olds had declined since 1998 from 9% to 3% among boys, and from 11% to 5% among girls. |
Among 15-year-olds, smoking had declined from a peak in 1996, from both 30% for boys and girls to 12% for boys and 18% among girls. | Among 15-year-olds, smoking had declined from a peak in 1996, from both 30% for boys and girls to 12% for boys and 18% among girls. |