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Labour has
made one of the boldest and bravest decisions with the ban on smoking
in public places.
Despite our efforts there are still too many young
people smoking and I want to see Labour go even
further by raising the age for buying
cigarettes and tobacco to 18.
To mark National No
Smoking Day (Wednesday 14 March), Labour MSP Allan Wilson lobbied Health
Minister Andy Kerr to raise the legal age for buying cigarettes and tobacco
from 16 to 18.
The Cunninghame North MSP says Scotland’s ban on smoking in public places
was making a difference but he wants to see Labour go even further and ban
the sale of tobacco to under 18’s and take tougher action on retailers who
sell cigarettes to underagers.
Speaking after his meeting with the minister, Allan Wilson said: “Labour has
made one of the boldest and bravest decisions with the ban on smoking in
public places. Lives have been saved as a result and our young people are
getting a clear message that smoking is harmful and socially unacceptable.”
“Despite our efforts there are still too many young people smoking and I
want to see Labour go even further by raising the age for buying cigarettes
and tobacco to 18. The vast majority of local retailers sell responsibly but
I also told Andy Kerr I would welcome taking tougher action on the small
number of retailers who sell cigarettes to underagers.”
Health Minister Andy Kerr added: “I listened carefully to what Allan Wilson
had to say, especially about increasing the legal age of cigarette sales to
18. It is clear we have to do more to stop young people from starting to
smoke as well as supporting those who smoke but want to quit. Labour will
have a commitment in our manifesto to crack down on retailers who sell
cigarettes to children. I am also delighted we have been able to increase
the budget for local cessation services.”
The Labour MSP also spoke with the Health Minister about increasing funding
for local smoking cessation services to help and support local people trying
to stub out for good.
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