Support for Plans to Raise Legal Age for Buying Tobacco

Source from:  tr.itsmyiq.com Sep 14, 2007 09/17/2007

Plans to raise the legal age for buying cigarettes were backed by a Scottish committee yesterday, despite concerns about how it will be enforced. The Scottish hovernment will reform the law Friday to increase the age for purchasing tobacco from 16 to 18 at the start of next month, as the law changes in the rest of the UK. The Health and Sport Committee unanimously backed the move, but Public Health Minister Shona Robison was told that if it was not backed up with enforcement measures it would be a waste of time. Tory health spokeswoman Mary Scanlon said: "Unless there are enforcement measures in place we are wasting our time. I'm disappointed you have not made a commitment to increasing trading standards officers in order to enforce this issue before its implementation." The minister said she was hopeful of getting "additional resources for this important piece of work" and said the Scottish government was working with retailers and trading standards officers to ensure the change in the law was implemented "as smoothly as possible". Ms. Robison said: "We want to make Scotland a healthier place and we believe that raising the age of purchase for cigarettes to 18 will help us achieve that aim." Surveys revealed 12 percent of 15-year-old boys and 18 percent of 15-year-old girls were regular smokers and she told the committee: "Raising the age will make it more difficult for young people to buy cigarettes." Ms Robison also claimed the move would send a clear message to young people and the wider population that smoking is highly dangerous. She added: "We really hope raising the age will be a major deterrent to retailers who sell to those who are underage." The existing age limit had been in place since 1937, when less was known about the dangers of tobacco. "It's the right time to raise the age," she said. Meanwhile, members of the committee agreed to consider two petitions calling for changes to the ban on smoking in enclosed public places as part of their post-legislative scrutiny of the measure. Both David Nelson, of the Fife Action Group, and Belinda Cunnison, from the organisation Freedom to Choose, claim the ban has damaged businesses such as pubs and clubs. M,r Nelson wants smoking to be permitted in designated areas within pubs and clubs, while Ms Cunnison is calling for Scottish Parliament to review the smoking ban and adopt a comprehensive approach to indoor air pollution. MSPs agreed to consider their pleas but former deputy health minister Lewis Macdonald said he did not think the committee would be sympathetic towards the petitions. Enditem