Two in five shops selling cigarettes to children

Children are still being sold cigarettes in two out of five shops, it emerged today.

A new study revealed under-18s are also able to buy packets of cigarettes from vending machines in three in five pubs.

The Office of Tobacco Control (OTC) monitoring report showed refusal rates among retailers for sales to minors in 2008 were still unacceptably low – with only 54% of shops asking teens for identification.

OTC chief executive Eamonn Rossi said retailers had to comply with the law to deter young people from smoking.

He urged concerned shoppers to register complaints about retailers or licensed premises selling products to youths.

“High levels of compliance ensure minors encounter real difficulty in accessing tobacco products,” he said.

“While the increase in refusal rates among retailers is undoubtedly welcome, two in five continue to sell to under 18s. This rises to two in three among licensed premises.

“I urge all those working in shops and pubs who sell tobacco to always ask young people for ID.”

The audit, launched by junior health minister Mary Wallace, examined how compliant retailers were last year.

It found:

:: Nationally, 60% of shops refused to sell cigarettes to an underage youth, a slight increase on 2007.

:: 63% of minors bought cigarettes from a vending machine in licensed premises.

:: 54% of shops and 31% of licensed premises asked the children for ID.

:: 96% of minors who were asked for ID were refused the sale.

:: 89% of stores visited had some form of tobacco advertising on display.

Minister Wallace said new regulations coming into force from July 1 will remove display and advertising of tobacco products from points-of-sale in shops.

“The aim of these measures is to further de-normalise tobacco and to protect children from the dangers of tobacco consumption,” said Ms Wallace.

“It is therefore imperative that retailers and their staff take responsibility and ask all young people for proof of age ID. Environmental Health Officers are actively enforcing this law and retailers who sell a tobacco product to a person under 18 are open to prosecution.”

OTC chair Norma Cronin said the measures being introduced should not be underestimated.

“Research clearly shows that children are aware of and are influenced by tobacco advertising in the retail setting,” she added.

“In Ireland for example, 80% of child smokers smoke just two brands, the brands which happen to be the two most heavily marketed through the use of in-store displays.”