UK raises age at which tobacco can be legally bought
Recently in the UK, another milestone has been achieved in the drive to denormalise tobacco smoking – the age at which young people can legally buy tobacco has been raised from 16 to 18, and this new ruling came into force from the beginning of October 2007.
Raising the age at which young people can buy tobacco follows the legislation introducing smokefree public places and workplaces from July 2007.
In the UK around nine per cent of young people between the ages of 11 and 15 smoke, and government is aiming to reduce this number. It is hoped that raising the legal age to 18 will make it easier for retailers to spot the under-age smokers, and will lead to a fall in the number of teenagers getting addicted to nicotine when they are still young, and then continuing to smoke into adulthood.
It is also hoped that bringing the legal age for the purchase of tobacco into line with that for alcohol will reinforce the dangers of smoking to young people. It also brings England and Wales into line with Canada, Australia, New Zealand and the US.
Despite the reduction in the number of underage smokers from 13 per cent in 1996 to 9 per cent in 2005, it is thought that tobacco is still too easy for older children and young people to buy. In one survey it was found that only 23 per cent of those under 16 who tried to buy tobacco reported that it was difficult to do so. Evidence shows that nearly 70 per cent of 11 to 15 year old smokers say they buy their cigarettes from small shops such as newsagents and corner shops, suggesting that some retailers may be being a little too lenient in their judgement of age.
It is to be hoped that the new legislation will lead to a reduction in the numbers of young smokers.
Filed under: Children, Young people
