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29/10/2007
Doctors Back Cigs Ban For Under-18s
Doctors in Northern Ireland have welcomed today's announcement from the NI Health Minister that he proposes raising the legal age for the purchase of tobacco products.
Dr Colin Hamilton, Chairman of the BMA's Public Health Committee in Northern Ireland, said: "We are pleased that the NI Health Minister, Michael McGimpsey MLA, has decided to go out to consultation on raising the age of sale of tobacco products.
"BMA(NI) will be responding to this consultation and will be recommending that legislation be introduced to raise the minimum age of sale to 18.
"We are also calling for legislation to ban the sale of packs of 10 cigarettes and that a positive licensing scheme, already in place in shops that wish to sell alcohol, be introduced.
"On the basis of research, we recommend that cigarettes should not be displayed at the point of sale and tobacco vending machines should be banned."
Dr Hamilton was commenting on news that Assembly Health Minister Michael McGimpsey is to invite views on whether the minimum age of sale of tobacco products should be raised.
He said that the options on which views are being sought are to either maintain the current age limit of 16, to increase the age limit to 17 years or to increase the age limit to 18 years.
Launching the consultation, Michael McGimpsey said: “Smoking is the single greatest preventable cause of premature death and avoidable illness in Northern Ireland – claiming some 2,300 lives here each year.
“The introduction of smoke-free legislation earlier this year has enabled us all to enjoy a healthier work and social environment. This, together with the fact that people are seeking professional help from smoking cessation services in increasing numbers, will undoubtedly help us make progress towards our long-term aim of a tobacco-free society as set out in our Five Year Tobacco Action Plan.
“I recognise that a key factor in reducing prevalence is to discourage adoption of the smoking habit.
“Evidence shows that, in Northern Ireland, 79% of adult smokers took up the habit in their teens and that 11% of children aged 11-15 years are regular smokers.
“I am therefore seeking views on whether the minimum age of sale of tobacco products, which currently stands at 16, should be raised to help efforts to reduce teenage smoking.” he concluded.
(BMcC)
Dr Colin Hamilton, Chairman of the BMA's Public Health Committee in Northern Ireland, said: "We are pleased that the NI Health Minister, Michael McGimpsey MLA, has decided to go out to consultation on raising the age of sale of tobacco products.
"BMA(NI) will be responding to this consultation and will be recommending that legislation be introduced to raise the minimum age of sale to 18.
"We are also calling for legislation to ban the sale of packs of 10 cigarettes and that a positive licensing scheme, already in place in shops that wish to sell alcohol, be introduced.
"On the basis of research, we recommend that cigarettes should not be displayed at the point of sale and tobacco vending machines should be banned."
Dr Hamilton was commenting on news that Assembly Health Minister Michael McGimpsey is to invite views on whether the minimum age of sale of tobacco products should be raised.
He said that the options on which views are being sought are to either maintain the current age limit of 16, to increase the age limit to 17 years or to increase the age limit to 18 years.
Launching the consultation, Michael McGimpsey said: “Smoking is the single greatest preventable cause of premature death and avoidable illness in Northern Ireland – claiming some 2,300 lives here each year.
“The introduction of smoke-free legislation earlier this year has enabled us all to enjoy a healthier work and social environment. This, together with the fact that people are seeking professional help from smoking cessation services in increasing numbers, will undoubtedly help us make progress towards our long-term aim of a tobacco-free society as set out in our Five Year Tobacco Action Plan.
“I recognise that a key factor in reducing prevalence is to discourage adoption of the smoking habit.
“Evidence shows that, in Northern Ireland, 79% of adult smokers took up the habit in their teens and that 11% of children aged 11-15 years are regular smokers.
“I am therefore seeking views on whether the minimum age of sale of tobacco products, which currently stands at 16, should be raised to help efforts to reduce teenage smoking.” he concluded.
(BMcC)
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