Alliance says smoking age must be raised to 18 without delay

3.35.00pm GMT Tue 30th Oct 2007

Carrickfergus Alliance Councillor Stewart Dickson

Carrickfergus Alliance Councillor Stewart Dickson has said that plans to review tobacco purchasing must result in an increase in the legal age of buying such products to 18. He also said that having such a long consultation period for an issue as clear cut as this one was unhelpful.

Cllr Stewart Dickson said: "I welcome this review but I want to ask the Health Minister to fast track the currently interminable consultation process. We need the legal age for purchasing tobacco raised to 18 urgently. An issue as clear cut as this one needs little consultation conducted on it.

"Anything holding up this change in the law, like this extremely long consultation period, is stopping vitally important legislation which will protect young people's health being put in place.

"Changing the law will be a positive step but changing attitudes is also essential. An increase in the legal age for purchasing tobacco must also be back up by a strong awareness raising campaign, particularly focused on under 18s."

ENDS