Information on Loughborough

Stopping Sales of Cigarettes to Children

Posted on 02/05/2009

Leicestershire Councty Council Community Services

1 May 2009

Stopping Sales of Cigarettes to Children

A blitz on shops that illegally sell cigarettes to children is set to be launched by Leicestershire Trading Standards.

The County Council’s Cabinet will, at its meeting on 12 May, be asked to agree a plan of work for the Trading Standards Service to help stop children getting hold of and using cigarettes.

In the coming year the Service will act on complaints from members of the public alleging shop sales of cigarettes to children under 18 years of age.  Over the last year 25 complaints were received alleging underage sales and supply of counterfeit or smuggled tobacco.  As a result warnings were issued, illicit product seized, with two other investigations still proceeding.  Shops and pubs will also continue to be inspected to ensure that statutory age restriction notices are displayed.

A programme of test purchasing using volunteer children will be undertaken at shops where underage sales are suspected of taking place.  This will be accompanied by a media campaign to remind retailers of their legal obligations.  

Test purchasing took place at 4 different premises in the last 12 months.  Unfortunately 3 illegal sales were made from vending machines.   As a result one machine was removed altogether, another relocated and the third is now token operated to prevent further illegal sales. Similar work has been carried out in support of a National Health Service project that has resulted in noticeable reductions in the incidence of smoking in targeted schools. This will be continued over the next year.

David Bull, Head of Leicestershire County Council Trading Standards Service, said: “Unfortunately there are a minority of businesses and individuals who continue to flout the law which is there to protect the health of our young people.  I am also concerned about the rise in availability of cheap illicit tobacco that can find its way into the hands of young persons.  This plan of work will help counter this and will make an important contribution to preventing young people from taking up the smoking habit.

http://www.leics.gov.uk/tradingstandards

Notes for Editors:

It is illegal to sell tobacco products (cigarettes, cigars, loose rolling tobacco, herbal tobacco substitutes and rolling papers) to anyone under the age of 18 under the Children & Young Persons Act 1933.  The maximum fine is £2500.

The Criminal Justice and Immigration Act 2008 introduced new provisions for tackling persistent sellers of tobacco to children.  Since April 1st, following a conviction where there is evidence of two previous sales in the preceding two years, the new sanctions will allow a Court Order to be sought, which will either prevent a specific premise of a business or a named person from selling tobacco for up to 12 months.  If a Court Order is breached the maximum fine on summary conviction is £20,000.

Anyone with information about illegal sales of tobacco should notify us through Consumer Direct on 08454 040506.”

Facts on Smoking

80% of all lung cancers are smoking-related.

For non-smokers, long-term exposure to second-hand smoke can increase the risk of lung cancer by 10 to 30 per cent

National surveys show that at least 70 per cent of smokers would like to stop

The estimated cost to the NHS of smoking-related diseases is £1.5 billion pounds.

Contacts:

Graham Coe – Team Leader 0116 305 6547

Keith Regan – Unit Head 0116 305 6533