Cigs sales to children under attack

4:30pm Wednesday 27th August 2008

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WATCHDOGS have promised to get tough on shops that sell cigarettes to children.

Wigan Council’s Trading Standards team is preparing to go undercover to catch the cigarette sellers in the act.

As of last October it became illegal to sell tobacco products to anyone under 18, as opposed to the previous 16. Yet research by Trading Standards has revealed that 30 per cent of shops and other outlets in the borough are still selling to children aged 16 and under.

Over the weeks ahead the team will be working with specially trained volunteers who are under the minimum age who will be going into shops, off licences, pubs, petrol stations and newsagents across the borough and attempting to buy cigarettes.

Wigan’s Chief Trading Standards Officer Julie Middlehurst said: “We know that the majority of retailers are working hard to make sure no underage sales take place but it our ambition to make sure all shops comply with the law and make it as difficult as possible for young people to get hold of cigarettes and start smoking.

“We all know that smoking is really bad for your health and starting at a young age can only make these health problems worse. We are on-hand to provide support, information and advice to shop workers on how to deal with people they think are underage.

“We also want to warn them in advance that we are conducting this exercise and that if we do catch anyone we will take legal action where appropriate.”

A number of off licences previously were found to be selling tobacco to underage children despite following the "Challenge 21" policy- where anyone not looking 21 is asked for ID when buying alcohol.

Trading Standards urge all shops to adopt the Challenge 21 policy for tobacco sales as well as alcohol. Free information packs to help local traders are available by contacting Trading Standards 01942 827476.