West Dunbartonshire kids still being sold cigarettes

MANY shops are still selling cigarettes to children, the council has revealed.
West Dunbartonshire Council’s Trading Standards say 28 per cent of shops they have visited this year are selling cigarettes to people underage.
Last month, officers visited 18 shops with young volunteers, who asked to buy a packet of cigarettes. Thirteen shops refused to sell to the youngsters, but five shops sold a packet of cigarettes to a 16-year-old.
The minimum age for buying them was raised from 16 to 18 in 2007.
Councillor Craig McLaughlin, spokesperson for corporate services, said: “Despite a high profile and intense operation by our Trading Standards officers to dissuade shopkeepers from selling cigarettes to young people, there still appears to be a significant minority of retailers who will break the law relating to tobacco sales.
“Scottish Government data shows that a child who starts to smoke in their early teens is five times more likely to die of lung cancer than someone who starts in their mid-twenties, and 15 times more likely to die of lung cancer than a non-smoker.
“The council will therefore continue to take action to stop anyone selling cigarettes to young people.”
Nicky Johnston, Trading Standards officer, said: “Thankfully, most of the shops are refusing to sell which is great but we will continue to monitor shops which we suspect of selling tobacco to children.
“Several cases are currently going through the legal process and we will continue to report the more serious offenders to the procurator fiscal with a view to prosecution.”
Upon conviction, offenders can be fined up to £2500.
Ms Johnston warned that shop workers, as well as the owners of the businesses, can be prosecuted and risk a criminal record and a substantial fine.
As well as carrying out test purchases, Trading Standards is working with the police to give advice to businesses about what to do to avoid committing an offence. It can be as simple as training shop staff to ask for proof of age.