Re: illegal for under-18s to buy tobacco in U.K. from today
Originally posted by Zebedee
A new law making it illegal for under-18s to buy tobacco comes into force.(Advertisement)
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.
[B]It was certainly news to me
[/B]
This has been the law in my country for years!
Originally posted by Captain King
Captain King is a naval rank.Look it up.
http://www.history.navy.mil/trivia/trivia04.htm
Corporal
Sergeant
Petty Officer
Warrant Officer
Ensign
Lieutenant
Captain
Major
Lieutenant Commander
Commander
Colonel and Lieutenant Colonel
Navy Captain
Commodore
Admiral
General
dur
Originally posted by SyrenI started smoking (if you could call it that) a few weeks ago. And let me say, it's good for a while, but really, it's not as good as they say. All that happens is you get used to it, that's probably the time when you should stop.
I was clueless when I was 16 shrug Started smoking when I was 12, thought I was cool. I think it's a positive move, if a little shakily executed.
A few weeks ago? During all this hype against smoking? When I started smoking I knew it wasn't the healthiest option but I was very young and they were still advertising cigarettes on billboards so it wasn't as taboo as it is now. I realise I probably sound like all of our parents (those who smoke) but it's true. If I hadn't started smoking back then there's no way I'd start now 😬
Originally posted by SyrenAll my friends do it and want me to do it. Might aswell try a bit.
A few weeks ago? During all this hype against smoking? When I started smoking I knew it wasn't the healthiest option but I was very young and they were still advertising cigarettes on billboards so it wasn't as taboo as it is now. I realise I probably sound like all of our parents (those who smoke) but it's true. If I hadn't started smoking back then there's no way I'd start now 😬
It's not the best thing in the world. Pretty cool though.
Originally posted by DARKLORDCAEDUS
As long as underage kids have fake I.D.'s nothing is illegal. I have never ever smoked.
Fake IDs are usually easy to spot, if you know how to do your job.
Originally posted by chillmeistergen
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.
I work in a Threshers off-licence, and we operate a Think 21 policy for products only available to people age 18 and up. So I have to ID people that look 18, 19 and 20 for cigarettes. 5 days in and it's already a bit of a nightmare.