Shops flout laws on underage sales

Publication date: Friday 11 March 2011

"Tell us who is selling cigarettes to our children and young people and we will take action" says Haringey Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods, Cllr Nilgun Canver.

This plea follows a joint police and council operation that found Haringey shopkeepers are still selling cigarettes to under 18s more than a year after the law forbad them from doing so.

An undercover operation last month found that the vast majority of traders visited (85 percent) sold cigarettes to underage young people.

Under supervision, police cadets who were obviously under age, went to buy cigarettes from seven shops and were served in six of them, showing a sharp decline in compliance compared with previous tests.

Shopkeepers in Haringey are encouraged to adopt the 'Think 25 policy' - this means if a customer looks under 25 the seller must ask for an appropriate ID.

Haringey's Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods, Cllr Nilgun Canver, said:

"This is very serious. We know that the tobacco industry targets young people because few people begin smoking once they are into their twenties. If underage young people can easily access cigarettes then they may be hooked for life.

"We know the health risks associated with smoking and I am very disappointed to hear that so many Haringey traders are ignoring this.

"By not complying with the law they are putting young people's health at risk. The council will use every means at our disposal to put a stop to these sales and shops that sell regularly could be banned from selling cigarettes altogether".

The test purchase operation is ongoing and is supported by the Department of Health in order to reduce the impact of tobacco on young people smoking.

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