Policy responses and statements
Background: The Scottish Executive invited comments on proposals for a draft Order under powers contained in the Smoking, Health and Social Care (Scotland) Act 2005 to raise the age of purchase of tobacco products from 16 to 18 and the related draft partial Regulatory Impact Assessment. The Smoking Prevention Working Group ( SPWG), a sub-group of the Scottish Ministerial Working Group on Tobacco Control, was set up last year to make recommendations to the Scottish Executive to assist the development of a new long term smoking prevention strategy. The Group was also asked to advise on the question of evidence to support raising the age of sale of tobacco products from the current age of 16 years. The SPWG's report, " Towards a Future Without Tobacco", was published on 22 November 2006. The report is subject to a separate consultation. The SPWG has concluded that raising the age of purchase, as part of a range of smoking prevention measures, will contribute to a reduction in consumption by young people by reinforcing the message to the population in general and young people in particular that tobacco is a highly dangerous substance which should be avoided at all costs. They have recommended, therefore, that the age of purchase of tobacco products should be raised from 16 to 18. COMMENTS ON
The Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh is pleased to respond to the Scottish Executive on the above consultation. This proposal should be welcomed. Any measures to reduce the availability and consumption of cigarettes among older children and young teenagers are welcome as a measure which may reduce the prevalence of smoking, and contribute to reducing the growth of smoking rates in young people. There is a high incidence of starting smoking in the teens, addiction to nicotine is rapid and the earlier young people start the more likely they are to continue to smoke. This legislation would send out a powerful message to the population in general, and to young people in particular, to stress the fact that tobacco is highly dangerous and should be avoided. Previous legislation has not been rigorously enforced and so it is very important that there is proper enforcement of the new minimum purchase age. Raising the legal age to buy tobacco products should also have an effect on younger smokers in the 13-15 age group, which could have a further knock-on-effect on adult smoking over the longer term. Option 2 is preferred, with a relatively short lead in time. Option 3, with its longer lead in time, would allow some young cigarette smokers, currently within legal limits, to reach the age of being able to purchase tobacco products before the change. This would dilute the important quit message to these young people, already at risk from a smoking habit. Although greater quitting support could be targeted at 15-18 year olds during the transition period, current quit rates in this age range indicate that such support is relatively ineffective. A longer lead in period to allow such individuals to obtain smoking cessation would not necessarily be helpful and may dilute the message. In addition, a 12-18 month introduction period would result in Scotland lagging behind England in raising the legal age for purchasing tobacco.
Copies of this response are available from: Lesley Lockhart, Tel: 0131 225 7324 ext 608 [6 February 2007]
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