Since it became illegal to sell cigarettes to people under 18 years of age, the number of 16-17 year-olds who smoke in the UK has dropped, according to a study published in the medical journal Addiction. Up to 1st October 2007, it was illegal to sell cigarettes and tobacco products to people under 16.
Researchers at University College London (UCL) interviewed over 1,100 16-17 year olds across England. The interviews took place before and after the minimum age was raised to 18. The report reveals that since October 2007 smoking among 16-17 year-olds fell by 7%.
The researchers say their results demonstrate how important it is to help young people stop smoking.
The authors add that smoking rates among all over 18s were not affected by the changes.
Jenny Fidler, lead author based at Cancer Research UK’s health behavior research centre at UCL, said:
The new law looks to have helped reduce smoking prevalence among younger age groups. This is good news for the future health of this generation of young people and shows that tobacco policies can make a real difference.
The Health Act 2009 made it illegal to display tobacco products in shops at full view of purchasers. Cigarette vending machines also became illegal. The authors quote these as examples of protecting young people from tobacco marketing. However, if the government does not implement the regulations to allow these measures to take effect, they could be under threat.
Over 80% of all smokers started smoking before they were 19 years old. Approximately 50% of all smokers will die prematurely from cancer or other smoking-related diseases.
In order to reduce the death toll from tobacco, measures are needed to stop young people from taking it up in the first place.
Jean King, Cancer Research UK’s director of tobacco control, said:
This result is encouraging. We would like to have seen an even bigger drop in the number of young smokers but any measure that helps stops young people from smoking is a step in the right direction.
We need to do more to protect young people. We urge the government to prevent more lives being lost to an addiction that will kill half of all long term smokers. Rolling out the regulations to remove tobacco displays in shops and getting rid of cigarette vending machines is needed and wanted by the public.
Source: Journal Addiction
Jennifer A. Fidler, Robert West
Addiction Article first published online: 17 AUG 2010
DOI: 10.1111/j.1360-0443.2010.03039.x
Written by Christian Nordqvist