Half of cigarette retailers do not ask children for ID

Nearly half of all shops in Ireland do not ask children under the age of 18 for ID if they are purchasing cigarettes, according to a survey commissioned by the Office of Tobacco Control.

The survey has found that just 47% of shops and petrol stations request ID.

It has also found that nine-in-10 stores have some form of tobacco advertising on display, while two-thirds of minors are not prevented from buying cigarettes from pub vending machines.

The Office of Tobacco Control has described the findings as "unacceptable".

Launching the report, Minister for Health Mary Harney stated: "Children see tobacco almost invariably occupying the most prominent display space behind the counter of retail supermarkets, shops, newsagents and petrol stations.

"It is placed among a whole range of familiar products in these shops creating the impression that tobacco is much more socially acceptable and commonly used than is really the case.

"The Public Health (Tobacco) Acts 2002 and 2004 also contain important provisions limiting the display and advertising of tobacco products in shops. The aim of these provisions is to further de-normalise tobacco and to protect children from the dangers of tobacco consumption.

"I intend to announce a date for commencement of these provisions shortly.

"The OTC report being published today shows that we have significant progress to make in reducing access to tobacco products through the retail environment.

Legally retailers are obliged to take reasonable efforts to satisfy themselves to a person’s age. EHOs are actively enforcing this law and retailers who sell a tobacco product to a person under 18 are open to prosecution."

Speaking on the report, Éamonn Rossi, OTC chief executive, stated that refusal rates are at an unacceptable level and called for increased compliance with the law.

"In this context, Environmental Health Officers of the HSE enforce tobacco laws in Ireland. The HSE has committed to focusing their efforts with extensive test purchasing programmes across all regions in 2008.

"Best practice shows that very high compliance rates are necessary to impact sales to minors. This report highlights a strong and clear correlation between the willingness of retailers to ask for ID and their refusal to sell, with 91% of minors who were asked for ID being refused sale.

"It is therefore imperative that retailers and their staff take responsibility and ask all young people for proof of age ID."