Consultations: Under-Age Sale of Tobacco
Name: Consultation on Under-Age Sale of Tobacco
Source: Department of Health
Date: September 2006
Following the publication of the public health White Paper ‘Choosing Health’ in November 2004, the Department of Health committed to a tobacco control programme that would involve measures to prevent children from buying tobacco.
The consultation invites responses on proposals to raise the minimum age of sale for tobacco and on suggested measures to introduce tougher sanctions against retailers who consistently sell tobacco to underage smokers.
Cancer Research UK supports an increase in the age limit of tobacco sale to 18, in line with alcohol. If the age of purchase were raised, it would give a clear message that smoking is a dangerous activity, and that there should be legal protection in place to discourage its use. If the legislation could be effectively enforced, it should make it more difficult for children to buy tobacco; limiting their access to cigarettes. It would also make it easier for schools to ban smoking entirely, which may have other positive consequences, possibly reducing the peer pressure on young people to smoke.
For more information please read our consultation response in full.
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