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MSPs to raise legal smoking age Legal smoking age to rise to 18
(1 day later)
MSPs are expected to give the go-ahead to government plans to raise the legal age for buying cigarettes to 18. The legal age for buying cigarettes in Scotland is to rise from 16 to 18 next month.
The move has attracted cross-party support and will also take place in England and Wales from 1 October. MSPs unanimously backed a change in the law following a short parliamentary debate.
However concerns have been raised that extra resources would not be made available to impose the law. The move attracted cross-party support and will also take place in England and Wales from 1 October.
However, concerns have been raised that extra resources would not be made available in time for the imposition of the law.
Health Minister Shona Robison told members that a person who started smoking at the age of 15 was three-times more likely to die from its effects than someone taking up the habit in their 20s.
The legal age for buying cigarettes was set prior to World War II, long before the health threats posed by tobacco were recognised.The legal age for buying cigarettes was set prior to World War II, long before the health threats posed by tobacco were recognised.
Health Minister Shona Robison said that more must be done to combat smoking despite a series of measures such as the ban on smoking in enclosed public places. Ms Robison said that more must be done to combat smoking despite a series of measures such as the ban on smoking in enclosed public places.
Research has shown that smokers who get the habit in their teens were most vulnerable to health problems.
But the Liberal Democrats questioned the effectiveness of the move as only 11 prosecutions have been successful against shops selling tobacco to children under 16.But the Liberal Democrats questioned the effectiveness of the move as only 11 prosecutions have been successful against shops selling tobacco to children under 16.
The Tories said councils must have more resources to make the new age limit effective.The Tories said councils must have more resources to make the new age limit effective.