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.
I agree we have a smoking area at work round the drinks machine there is a fan and a door but in the winter neither get used.
I for one will not be sad when next year it is banned from the workplace completely.
What people do in their own home or wide open outdoor spaces fine but I do not want to go home each night smelling like a stale ashtray.
Also there is nothing worse than having a great night out to come home and be told and know yourself that you stink of smoke.
Apple Pie is a British National dish you nicked it from us but we serve it with hot custard not ice cream much the better way. LOL
Check List
Heart - yes used to eat stuffed heart and enjoyed it as a child
Liver - yes one of my favourite dishes is liver and bacon in thick gravy
Suet - yes love suet puddings and dumplings made with the stuff
Think I will pass on the lungs though
Except they forget Ambrosia Deven or Birds custard how can you eat apple pie without that.
Yummy yum I actually had duck yesterday with apricot and walnut stuffing that was delicious
How many would you find in Britain though?
I bought it in Ashford, Kent the local fish and chip shop will do it for you if you ask. Deep fried Snickers with crispy batter too.
Ate one once but it was too rich and fatty for me.
I think you are right I avoid deep frying anything if I can often oven roasted tastes better and is more tender.
I cannot imagine deep fried turkey what does it actually taste like do you bread crumb it or what?
The best part of the deal is that the men cook it!!!!!!!
"'This is IT - what our country and flag are as American as. Since the earliest colonial days, apple pies have been enjoyed in America for breakfast, for an entrée, and for dinner. Colonist wrote home about them and foreign visitors noted apple pie as one of our first culinary specialties.' We cannot claim to have invented the apple pie, just to have perfected it ..."
(and perfecting English cooking isn't that hard) /s
[I have no animus towards the Brits - well, except for that burning of the White House thingy in 1812 - I even have a couple of them for 1st cousins thanks to WWII]
But what about the custard? Us Brits have to have that with apple pie only ice cream if custard not available.
What is wrong with English cooking? Not being funny but asking our food gets knocked but why? is it too bland, too fatty, not enough fat/sugar what?
told yous Scotlands hard on smoking, but I don't think putting the age up to 18 will slow down the teens from lighting up, and putting the price up to shy high, will just encourage tobacco smuggling.
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