The minimum age for buying tobacco products is set to rise from 16 to 18, the government has announced.
In a bid to reduce teenage smoking, the age limit will be raised on October 1st 2007 in both England and Wales, while Scotland and Northern Ireland are also set to introduce similar measures in the foreseeable future.
According to the government, around nine per cent of 11 to 15-year old youngsters smoke cigarettes and ministers believe the move should make it easier for retailers to identify underage smokers.
Public health minister Caroline Flint said that the younger people are when they start smoking, the more likely they are to become life-long smokers and experience reduced life expectancy.
"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"; Ms Flint revealed.
"Buying cigarettes has been too easy for under-16s and this is partly due to retailers selling tobacco to those under the legal age. The law change demonstrates our determination to stop this and to reduce the number of teenagers who smoke."
Private treatment news : 2/01/2007
