Posted on 11/22/2006 11:47:02 PM PST by MadIvan
* Ministers back rise in legal age for tobacco purchase from 16 to 18 * Recommendations come from report commissioned by the Executive * Author also warns that strict regulation and heavy fines are also required
Key quote
"We have a product that we know is addictive and pretty poisonous, but the laws around it are based on when we thought it was harmless." - DR LAWRENCE GRUER
Story in full SCOTLAND is to introduce some of the toughest anti-smoking laws in the world, after ministers backed raising the legal age of buying cigarettes from 16 to 18.
The move follows a report commissioned by the Executive that also recommends a ban on displaying cigarettes in shops, urging parents not to smoke in front of children and research into outlawing packs of ten.
Most of the recommendations are still under consideration, but the Executive decided to act immediately on the age limit. Doctors welcomed the move, but there was concern about how police will stop underage people buying cigarettes and accusations that Scotland is turning into a "puritanical state" where adults are not free to make choices.
Just seven months ago, smoking was banned in enclosed public places, and the new measures represent a further step in Jack McConnell's crusade against ill-health.
Ministers have powers to raise the age limit in the legislation to ban smoking in public places, but consultation will have to take place and regulations drawn up.
A spokesman said: "The Executive will begin the preparatory steps for implementing this recommendation, which will be subject to consultation, especially with young people's organisations, including the Scottish Youth Parliament." It was not clear whether this could be done ahead of May's Holyrood elections.
Dr Laurence Gruer, author of the report, welcomed the decision to raise the age limit. He said: "We have a product that we know is addictive and pretty poisonous, but the laws around it are based on when we thought it was harmless."
But he warned that regulations must be put in place to back up the law, including the use of proof of age, test-purchasing to catch retailers out and heavy fines.
In his report, Dr Gruer, director of public health science at NHS Health Scotland, said the Executive could go even further. One of the strictest proposed measures is to ban the display of cigarettes, replacing them with a list of brands and prices - a move that will go further than almost any other country in the world.
Dr Gruer also urged the Executive to ask Westminster to increase the price of cigarettes above inflation and to crack down on tobacco smuggling.
Maureen Moore, chief executive of ASH Scotland, pointed out that at 13 about 5 per cent of boys and 7 per cent of girls smoke, rising to a quarter of girls and 15 per cent of boys at 15.
"It is vital action is taken to help young people say no to an addiction that will kill one in two long-term smokers," she said.
Dr Andrew Buist, deputy chairman of the BMA's Scottish general practitioners' committee, urged the Executive to take on all the recommendations.
However, Neil Rafferty, of the lobby group Forest, said Scotland now had some of the strictest anti-smoking laws in the world except for Bhutan - where tobacco is illegal - and certain American states.
He said: "Scotland is one of the most puritanical societies in the western world. The government is determined to take away people's freedom of choice."
But Chris Ogden, director of the Tobacco Manufacturers' Association, said: "We do not have an issue with it.
"Children should not smoke, and we will do everything we can to help retailers refuse sales."
Key recommendations
• Set targets to cut percentage of boys and girls smoking between the age of 13 and 15.
• Set targets to cut percentage of boys and girls smoking between 16 and 24.
• Ensure greater efforts are made to enforce the prevailing legal age of purchase, including heavy fines for any shops that sell to children.
• Introduce a scheme so that vendors who repeatedly sell cigarettes to under-age customers can be prohibited from selling tobacco products.
• Raise the legal age for buying cigarettes to 18.
• Urge the UK government annually to increase the price of tobacco products at a rate faster than inflation.
• Ask the UK government to reconsider the sale of packs of ten cigarettes, because more young people buy the cheaper packs.
• Ensure Customs and Excise and the police in Scotland put a high priority on activities aimed at reducing tobacco smuggling.
• Urge the UK government to maintain and, if necessary, increase the investment in staff and equipment needed to control tobacco smuggling.
• Urge the UK government to review the current limits on importing cigarettes from other EU countries for personal use and the effectiveness of the controls in place.
• Urge the UK government to work with the EC to stop tobacco smuggling.
• Reinforce the UK government's intention to require graphic photographs of smoking-related diseases to be displayed on cigarette packets.
• Together with the UK government and other devolved administrations, look at ways to reduce positive images of smoking in the media.
• Prohibit the display of cigarettes at the point of sale, to be replaced by a simple list of the brands and their prices.
• A media campaign should be designed and implemented to discourage smoking by young people of any age.
• Improve education on tobacco, alcohol and other drugs in Scottish schools.
• Involve parents more in teaching about the dangers of tobacco.
• Parents should be encouraged by midwives, health visitors, GPs and hospital doctors, nursery staff and teachers not to smoke when children are present.
• Make all schools smoke-free zones.
• All schools should help children who smoke.
Regards, Ivan
Ping!
"Now Scotland will have the toughest anti-smoking laws in the Western world"
I guess the "Western world" is the world of the UK.
Smoking laws in the US are tougher and have been for some time - particularly California.
"Smoking laws in the US are tougher and have been for some time"
really? Interesting what you learn on this site
If the European Courts rule that individual countries can't raise tariffs on tobacco imports, http://travel.guardian.co.uk/news/story/0,,1946572,00.html , then outside of something similar to the parcel services refusing to ship firearms in the USA, but here refusing to ship tobacco within the EU, I don't see how this Scottish law is going to cause anything but financial hardship for the Scottish treasury and Scottish store owners who sell tobacco products.
You'd be amazed to see the numbers of well dressed commuters who sell Indian reservation cheap cigarettes at the bus and train stations in the NYC metro area. These people are easily making $2 a pack profit or more, and selling 20 to 40 packs in 15 minutes during their rush hour commutes. I see the same coming to Scotland if that court rules for tariff free trade of tobacco.
Low level and pervasive tobacco stamp tax rebellion.
It's really amazing to me how much people hate freedom.
Next they'll come for your haggis, then the cabers, then the kilts, and lastly that which lies beneath the kilt.
I don't smoke - however, it's none of my business if others want to do so.
Regards, Ivan
I'm ahead of them I've buried a stash of cabers.
Can't be any worse then what is happening here in America!
Same in South Africa - the legal age was 16, but a couple of years ago it was put back up to 18. Also no smoking in public enclosed places, workplaces, etc. Restaurants that allow smoking have to have separate enclosed smoking areas with their own ventilation systems. Also on the cards is the issue of preventing smokers from indulging their habit just outside the entrances to buildings where those wishing to enter have to walk through clouds of smoke, or where smoke can bother someone whose office window is open.
"Smoking laws in the US are tougher and have been for some time - particularly California."
Same for Arizona, especially Phoenix area. No Smoking in ANY building, including bars and bowling alleys. Glad I quit 11 years ago.
I visited Ireland a while ago and it's the same there. Very much the same as AZ, except in Arizona if you stand outside for a smoke it's nice and varm, in Ireland in winter you'll freeze your %$%&* off!!!
And yet Hagis is still legal ?????
Sub. "internet'" for "tobacco" and see the future. Eh, Scotty?
'And yet Hagis is still legal ?????'
Yeah, but they're really hard to light. . . .
'It's really amazing to me how much people hate freedom.'
Which freedom do you mean - the smokers freedom from non-smokers or the non-smokers freedom from smoke?
'I don't smoke - however, it's none of my business if others want to do so.'
I agree, so long as I don't have to smell their smoke, have my clothes smell of it or have it waft across my table just as my lobster arrives. Apart from that, they can do as they like! :)
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