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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Cigarette buying age to increase | Cigarette buying age to increase |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| The Scottish government has decided 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 the decision, but said a tobacco licensing scheme was needed for the policy to be effectively enforced. | |
| The announcement was 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. | 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." |
| 'Intimidation and abuse' | |
| The Scottish Grocers' Federation also welcomed the move, but said the decision would put pressure on shop workers to police the new law. | |
| The organisation called for a free national proof of age card, confidential smoking cessation sessions in schools and colleges and an advertising campaign. | |
| Federation chief executive, John Drummond said: "Retailers and shop workers already face intimidation, violence and abuse when challenging some youngsters to prove their age." | |
| 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. |
| 'Healthier' country | |
| 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. |
| Speaking from Claypotts Castle school, Ms Robison said raising the age would send a clear message to youngsters that smoking was "highly dangerous". | |
| "Making this country a healthier place is one of the top priorities for the Scottish government and raising the age of purchase for cigarettes will help us achieve this." | |
| Ministers already had the powers to increase the legal age, which were contained within the legislation which brought in Scotland's public smoking ban. |