You may or may not have read in the news about recent changes in the law, to increase the legal purchasing age for tobacco to 18 from the 1st October.
I really think we need to work on raising awareness of this age change, especially in the light of recent reports that local shopkeepers have been harassed by customers who have tried to buy cigarettes without knowing about the change in the law.
I was very concerned to read the reports in the Edmonton local press this week about shopkeepers being intimidated because they can no longer sell cigarettes to those aged between 16 and 18-years-old. Refusing age-restricted sales is already a major reason for retailers facing abuse, intimidation and violence, and I find it very worrying that this may have increased as a result of the new legislation.
There's no doubt that preventing the underage sale of tobacco has to be the Government’s priority and the increase in the legal purchasing age for tobacco will help reduce the chances of young people being able to buy tobacco in the future. However, the transition has to be managed and the key to that is awareness that the law has changed. That’s why I’m calling for everyone in the community to support our local shopkeepers in this.
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