News Date: Monday 1st October 2007
Tim: Local Shops need Support to Prepare for Tobacco Law Change
East Worthing and Shoreham MP Tim Loughton has called for all parts of the community to support local retailers when the legal purchasing age for tobacco increases to 18 on the 1st October.
From the 1st October retailers will only be allowed to sell tobacco products to those over 18 -it is important to raise awareness of this age change.
Tim commented:
"Preventing the underage sales of tobacco has to be a top priority. The increase in the age is likely to reduce the chances of young people being able to buy tobacco in the long term."
"However, the transition has to be managed, and key to that is awareness in the community that the law has changed. Refusing age restricted sales is already a major reason for retailers facing abuse, intimidation and violence. This is likely to increase on the 1st October, when older people will be asked for ID and some young people can no longer buy tobacco. I ask the local community to support retailers at this time."
ENDS
For more information please contact Ruth Farrer-Langton in the office of Tim Loughton MP on 020 7219 1622.
