Under-18s to carry out test purchases in illegal tobacco sales crackdown

Published on Wednesday 25 February 2009 08:58

EDINBURGH is set to hire "tobacco enforcers" to crack down on the sale of cigarettes to children.

The city council is to establish the Tobacco Enforcement Unit with Scottish Government funding of 158,000 a year, which will see under-age teenagers hired to carry out test purchases from Capital shops.

The aim is to halve the number of shops selling cigarettes to under-18s in the next two years.

Councils across Scotland have been given extra funding totalling 4.5m over three years to implement the crackdown.

Edinburgh is believed to have the highest number of tobacco retailers in Scotland, and Trading Standards Officers have already begun visiting shops in the city to underline the change in the law which came into effect over a year ago, raising the age limit for buying cigarettes to 18.

After these "advice" visits, a planned campaign of test purchasing will begin with a select group of volunteer teenagers attempting to buy cigarettes from shops.

In addition, adverts urging members of the public to report shopkeepers they suspect are selling to under-18s will appear next month on buses and bus shelters.

Traders who sell to under-age customers can face a fine of up to 2500 if convicted. The Scottish Government said at least ten per cent of retailers will be subject to test purchasing each year.

Phil Wheeler, Edinburgh's environment convener, said: "It is a sad fact that 15 per cent of Scotland's 15-year-olds are smokers. That is something we, as a local authority, can help tackle by ensuring that the law on the sale of tobacco products is rigorously enforced.

"It is important that young people are aware that they will be challenged by responsible shopkeepers if buying cigarettes."

Test purchasing "stings" after the 18 age limit was introduced in October 2007 found 18 of the 40 stores targeted sold cigarettes to a 15-year-old.

Latest figures suggest around 26 per cent of retailers are prepared to sell cigarettes to under-18s. The initial aim of the new drive is to slash that to 13 per cent by 2011.

The crackdown, launched at Edinburgh City Chambers, is being spearheaded by a new partnership between the Scottish Government, HM Revenue & Customs and Trading Standards departments across the country.

The "Enhanced Tobacco Sales Enforcement Scheme" also aims to stem the flow of smuggled or counterfeit cigarettes.

Public Health Minister Shona Robison said: "We're determined to improve the nation's health but our efforts will be in vain unless we can cut Scotland's smoking rates.

"This two-pronged attack will see more rigorous enforcement of existing tobacco laws, with Trading Standards Officers using every tool at their disposal to ensure retailers aren't selling cigarettes to under-18s. With over a quarter of retailers willing to sell cigarettes to under-18s, it's clearly an area that must be addressed."