Reduce the Sale of Cigarettes to Minors with a New Law
Young people continue to purchase smoking products. For example, nearly one-third of minors are still able to buy cigarettes from retailers illegal. This is the main cause why anti-tobacco researchers call for a new legislation which will reduce the sale of cigarettes to minors.
Researchers found that almost one-third of shopkeepers were violating laws that prohibit the sale of cigarettes to minors.
More than a third of licensed premises were ready to sell tobacco to minors according to the survey, while compliance levels among these premises increased 28 percent from 37 percent in 2008 to 65 percent this year.
The research found that compliance was higher among premises with token-operated cigarette vending machines where 70 percent prevented children from buying cigarettes, compared to 37 percent of premises with coin-operated machines.
But the compliance among retailers was up 8 percent, from 60 percent in 2008 to 68 percent in 2009. Some 61 percent of shops and licensed premises asked children for identification.
Ninety-seven percent of minors who were asked for ID were rejected the sale of cigarettes, the researchers added.
Office of Tobacco Control chief executive Éamonn Rossi said although a clear amelioration in compliance culture which had arose among retailers.
Mr. Rossi said: “While we welcome the increase, still one-third of minors can buy cigarettes.”
Áine Brady TD, Minister of State with responsibility for Older People and Health Promotion, said staff watchfulness was necessary to assure young people don’t have access to cigarette vending machines.
However all retailers know that selling tobacco to a child, they continue to launch them a journey to addiction, disease and death.
Researchers concluded that if the new legislation which will prohibit selling cigs to minors will be accepted then the smoking among kids will decrease too.
