New crackdown on cigarettes

Published on Wednesday 10 June 2009 22:02

ADULTS who buy cigarettes for children could be prosecuted under proposed new laws.

Shona Robison, the public health minister, told the parliament's health committee yesterday that she would consider introducing the measure.

Ms Robison was being questioned by MSPs on new laws proposed by the Scottish Government to curb sales of tobacco and cigarettes to young people. Nationalist MSP Michael Matheson said while it was illegal for an adult to buy alcohol and pass it to youngsters, there was no such provision for tobacco.

Ms Robison said: "I'm happy to give consideration to amending the bill to include this provision."

She defended plans to ban tobacco displays in shops, one of the measures included in the Tobacco and Primary Medical Services (Scotland) Bill. However, the Conservatives' health spokeswoman, Mary Scanlon, said: "Obesity is a huge problem – do we then say chocolate can kill and ban chocolate in glossy wrappers?"

Ms Robison said: "Point-of-sale advertising – and undoubtedly that is what displays are – are a powerful marketing tool, and it's totally inappropriate for such a uniquely dangerous product such as cigarettes and other tobacco products to be promoted in this way."