MattW

Not a smoker myself, and didn't realise the minimum age to buy tobacco went up to 18 today. Well publicised I think not.

Sonic'

Has been all over the radios and newspapers today and news websites too

Been lots of discussion about it too, how the 16 years will now be getting their parents and older friends to buy their smokes from now on

MattW

Ah! been in a workshop all day actually working, no time for all that nonsense.

MK5

best news there's been for a while

OllyK

Unless you're a shop keeper. Expect all the 16 & 17 year chavs who have been smoking since they were 12 to start threatening to burn the shop down if they don't get served. I agree with the idea in principal, but why not increase it by a year each year, so you don't get any hassle from those that do smoke and those that can't legally start don't get the chance to?

DCI Gene Hunt

Wonder where the school kids I pass on a daily basis buy their smokes from??

Sonic'

You'll find there are still plenty of corner shops that will sell smokes to anyone, I see it pretty much most days

dpb

parents probably

davegtt

Come on, Ive seen kids less than 12 smoking, if they can get their hands on them then I have no doubt 14/15yr olds can. Wont make a blind bit of difference IMO. Just like 14/15yr olds drink alcohol at the weekends. Not going to be any different.

alcazar

iTrader: (2)

So waht, exactly, is the point of legislation that makes it illegal to BUY tobacco products, but NOT to either possess, or to smoke them?

Surely, that's a bit like making it illegal to BUY a flickknife, but NOT to possess, or use one?

Alcazar

David Lock

Exactly right

There is also the old argument about age and freedom etc which, IMHO, remains valid. Go into the army, get married etc etc but you can't but 5 Woodbines. Big Bloody Brother. dl

Abdabz

Great news, more innocent passers by are going to get a beating for refusing to do chavs a favour outside offies round here... As if this will make any difference... Just a political placebo for the masses - great in principle obsurd in practise... Sums up the government quite nicely does that...

SJ_Skyline

So at 16: You can get married - but you can't buy a knife to cut the wedding cake. You can have sex but you aren't allowed to buy pornography. You you are allowed to join the army and serve your country but you can't vote, you can't drink, you can't smoke and you can drive a car on the road.

Leslie

From what I hear, half the parents are encouraging their children to smoke, and drink anyway!

Les

Jerome

So this will work in stopping underage smoking, just like the law stops underage drinking.

dpb

All we have to do now is force these people to pay for their hospital bills - and everybodys a winner

Clarebabes

Already seen an older friend buy a pack of cigs for someone else. How long before we're hassled by youngsters outside shops to buy them for them?

I don't think it will stop them at all, just like having an 18 limit for alcohol hasn't worked and it certainly didn't for me at 14 either!

fivetide

iTrader: (1)

Myth unfortunately. Tax from **** brings in more than double what it costs the NHS so techinically they are subsidising you.

5t.