"Suspend licences if retailers break the law"Cathy Peattie is calling for license suspensions for retailers who are repeatedly caught selling tobacco to under-16s. The call follows news today of a major test purchasing exercise of retailers by Trading Standards in Scotland, which found more than 25% of selected retailers sold tobacco to under-16s. The Falkirk East MSP says plans to test whether local shops are selling cigarettes to anyone under 16 would go some way to ensuring retailers are more strict about who they sell to, making it more difficult for young people to buy tobacco. “Scotland has led the way in becoming smoke-free in public places,” said Cathy, “and our people are benefiting as a result. However, there is still work to be done to reduce smoking rates, especially among young people. Children still find it too easy to walk into a local shop and buy tobacco. “I want tougher enforcement procedures to make sure no-one under the age of 16 is sold cigarettes from a local shop, and stricter penalties for those who flout the law – they should face a licence suspension and a requirement to notify the public of this suspension at their own expense.” Test purchasing is where a Trading Standard Officer with the help of young volunteers attempt to buy cigarettes from shops to test whether or not they are selling tobacco to young people. In a project coordinated by the Society of Chief Officers of Trading Standards in Scotland (SCOTSS) between June and August 2006, more than a third of local authorities, including Glasgow and Edinburgh, took part in a test purchasing exercise. 18 of 69 test purchases resulted in sales to under 16s. ASH says 24% of 15 year old girls and 14% of 15 year old boys smoke and that 86% of young people who smoke say they buy their cigarettes from shops. |
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