Smokers ‘will need id cards’

Andrew French

Some newsagents fear raising the age to buy cigarettes to 18 is going to make spotting underage customers harder rather than easier.

Public Health Minister Caroline Flint announced yesterday the new law will come into effect from October 1.

Campaigners have welcomed the move but raised concerns over how the law would be enforced. John Seath, who runs Varsity News in Park End Street, said it would be difficult to assess if teenagers were 18 just by looking at them and called for new identity cards to be issued.

He said: “It’s easier to judge if someone is under 16, but it will be more difficult to tell if someone is under 18.

“The Tobacco Alliance is lobbying for a system of ID cards and I think it will have to happen.

“A recognised system of ID cards is the only answer if this is going to work properly.”

Ramela Farahani, 18, who helps run Oxford House News in Oxford Road, Kidlington, added: “This will definitely make things harder - at the moment there are lots of teenagers who don’t carry their ID.”

Mark Evans, assistant manager of Dillons newsagent in Elms Parade, Botley, said: “I don’t think the increase in the age limit will necessarily make things any more difficult, but an ID card with the kids’ ages on would help.

“A lot of them kick off when you ask them their age.”

In September, Asda at Wheatley voluntarily brought in an over-18s policy.

Government statistics show that nine per cent of young people aged between 11 and 15 smoke - down from 13 per cent in 1996.

It wants to drive the figure down even further and believes that raising the limit will make it easier for retailers to spot under-age smokers.

With tobacco and alcohol illegal for under 18s, retailers should be helped to comply with the law, the Department of Health said.

The Government launched a public consultation in July on whether the limit should be raised to 17 or 18.

A ban on smoking in enclosed public places comes into effect on July 1, but the NHS and Government buildings, including the John Radcliffe hospital’s grounds, went smoke-free yesterday.

Ms Flint said: “Smoking is dangerous at any age but someone who starts smoking aged 15 is three times more likely to die of cancer due to smoking than someone who starts in their late 20s.”

Only 23 per cent of under-16s who try to buy tobacco found it difficult to do so, according to a Department of Health study.

The Smoking, Drinking and Drug Use Among Young People in England Survey 2004 revealed that 70 per cent of 11- to 15-year-old smokers bought cigarettes from small shops.

Deborah Arnott, director of ASH (Action on Smoking and Health), welcomed the change but called for tougher sanctions against retailers who sold to under-age youngsters.

* People wanting to quit smoking can call the Oxfordshire Smoking Advice Service on 01865 226663 or ask to see the smoking adviser at their local doctor’s surgery.