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illegal for under-18s to buy tobacco in U.K. from today
A new law making it illegal for under-18s to buy tobacco comes into force.
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The legal age for buying tobacco rises from 16 to 18, bringing it into line with alcohol.
Health campaigners welcomed the move, saying it would be easier for retailers and customers to follow the law.
But critics accused the Government of a "woefully inadequate" advertising campaign, saying only one in five 16 to 18-year-olds knew about the change.
The Department of Health hopes the move will cut the number of teenage smokers and has promised a hard crackdown on retailers who flout the law.
Shop owners will have to display signs in their windows and could face fines or prosecution if they sell tobacco to those under-age.
A spokesman for the British Retail Consortium said it supported a move to bring tobacco in line with alcohol, fireworks and glue.
"Retailers are well aware of the change and have been doing their bit to inform customers," he said. "But, from today, we will see how successful the Government's promised campaign has been in preventing stores becoming conflict flashpoints as shop staff say "no" to 16 and 17-year-olds who have been able to buy cigarettes previously."
The Association of Convenience Stores, which represents around 33,000 local shops, criticised the Government's "largely internet-based" advertising campaign for shoppers.
It was certainly news to me
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The age being 16 didnt stop me when I was 14 or any one else i knew, its quite easy to find a corner shop that doesnt give a shit. Its easier to just buy imported **** from people who sell them. They think this will change some thing but god knows what that is. Granted I wish I didn't start now but really theres no way to stop some one thats under age who wants to smoke for what ever reason.
I work in a shop part time and to be honest, this is going to be a nightmare. The number of local kids that I know are 16 and 17 and smoke is massive, when they are refused sale it's going to kick off.
It's also adding massive confusion to matters, staff are going to have to get used to not doing something they've been doing for years and years, and customers are going to have to live with the fact that yesterday they could buy them; today they can't.
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"All morons hate it when you call them a moron." - Holden Caulfield
Yeah pretty much, I'm not particularly worried about shoplifters. But the assault thing, it's not really worth my measly part time wage to get attacked.
I'll have to find another way to afford going out on the weekend and funding my studies, if it happens.
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"All morons hate it when you call them a moron." - Holden Caulfield
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with thanks to the awesome Cresh
Oct 1st, 2007 01:41 PM
