The age at which cigarettes can be bought in Scotland is to rise to 18, Public Health Minister Shona Robison announced today, after an order was laid in Parliament to amend the existing law on cigarette sales, allowing the age increase to come into force from October 1.

The change, which will occur on the same day as in England and Wales, has been welcomed by the Scottish Grocers Federation (SGF), which however warned that shop workers could face abuse as the age rises.

Robison said: "Making this country a healthier place is one of the top priorities for the Scottish government, and raising the age of purchase for cigarettes will help us achieve this.

"We need to start with our young people and discourage them from starting to smoke in the first place. Raising the age will send a clear message to young people that smoking is highly dangerous.

"I am pleased by figures out just last week showed a decrease in the number of teenagers smoking, and I am confident that today's announcement, combined with a wider package of measures including stricter enforcement, will contribute to an even greater reduction in the number of young people smoking."

Robison added: "I also recognise that giving up smoking is really difficult to do, especially without any support.

"Statistics also tell us that almost half of 15-year-old smokers - 49 per cent - want to give up smoking. We will continue to look for the best ways to help them to kick the habit."

The SGF has called on the Executive to introduce a national proof of age card to protect shop workers who will have to turn away 16 and 17 year olds no longer able to buy cigarettes.

SGF chief executive John Drummond said: “Tobacco should be for adults and it is right that the Scottish Executive should determine at what age someone in Scotland is old enough to smoke. This move will make it harder for children to access tobacco and for this reason alone it should be welcomed.

"However this decision will put a lot of pressure on the shop workers who will have to police the new law. Already retailers and shop workers face intimidation, violence and abuse when challenging some youngsters to prove their age. Now, with 16 and 17 year olds set to lose their ability to smoke overnight, it is shop workers not the police or politicians, who will be expected to enforce the law."

The SGF is calling on the Executive to provide a package of measures to lessen the potential for conflict in stores. These measures include the proof of age card and also a confidential smoking cessation programme in schools and colleges for all 16 and 17 year olds in the run up to the age change, and a prime time advertising campaign making everyone aware of the forthcoming change.

Dr Andrew Buist, the deputy chairman of the BMA's Scottish GP committee, added: “The BMA is delighted that the Scottish Executive will raise the purchase age of tobacco to 18 from 1 October 2007. Research shows that most smokers begin in adolescence and that the younger someone starts smoking, the less likely they are to give up. Raising the minimum purchase age of tobacco from 16 to 18 will decrease the number of young people smoking in Scotland by reducing the availability of cigarettes. When coupled with improved enforcement of the higher age limit, young teenagers will find it more difficult to purchase tobacco from shops.

"England and Wales are introducing this policy in October 2007 and implementing the policy in Scotland at the same time will be beneficial as campaigns to raise awareness could run in tandem and complement each other. The BMA has been calling for this move for several years and any further delay to implementation will leave more time for underage children to purchase cigarettes, causing significant damage to their health in the short and longer term."

Related news items:

• 'Clear measures' announced to monitor health inequalities
• 'Don't let the flu turn on you' warns Scottish Government
• 'Health tourism' consultation launched by Scottish Governmen
• 'Radical rethink' of public services to tackle health inequa
• Aberdeen Dental School to boost Scottish dentist numbers