ACS Opposes "Poorly-Targeted" Tobacco Licensing
23 Apr 2007
The Association of Convenience Stores (ACS), the campaigning voice of over 33,000 local shops has called for more effective use of existing sanctions and a more wide ranging approach to tackling underage smoking.
Responding to a report from the British Medical Association (BMA) ACS Chief Executive, James Lowman said: “Licensing for all shops selling tobacco would impose significant costs and bureaucracy on responsible retailers.
“Rather than this poorly targeted measure more must be done to focus on the irresponsible minority who are caught selling tobacco to the underage but are only receiving a fraction of the maximum £2500 fine available for the offence. Why invent new measures to catch all retailers when existing penalties are not being used effectively?”
The BMA’s report ‘Breaking the cycle of children's exposure to tobacco smoke’ proposes a range of measures including tobacco licensing. The report will increase the pressure on Government to impose further regulations as a means of tackling underage smoking.
“ACS and its members take their responsibility very seriously, not only because there are tough sanctions for selling tobacco to under 18s, but because we cherish our role in the community. As an industry leader ACS has promoted tough procedures to prevent young people buying tobacco, including the CitizenCard proof of age card, The Proof of Age Standards Scheme (PASS,) refusals registers and staff training. We absolutely believe that there is no room for complacency on this issue.”
“The whole community has a role to play in tackling underage smoking. As it stands there is no punishment for a young person who buys or smokes tobacco, we are disappointed that the BMA has not urged the Government to make it illegal for a young person to attempt to buy tobacco when underage, or to make it illegal for an adult to buy tobacco on behalf of someone underage. These two measures are a vital part of a comprehensive approach to reducing underage smoking and yet have been consistently ignored."
Contact:
Shane Brennan Public Affairs and Communications Manager
01252 515001/07921 372 978
Rachel Lawson Communications Co-ordinator
01252 515001
Notes to editors:
1. According to Department of Health there were 73 prosecutions in 2004 and the average fine awarded is £350.
2. Since it started CitizenCard has issued well over a million cards, materials are available free of charge at http://www.citizencard.net/
3. PASS is an accreditation scheme for proof of age cards, schemes bearing the PASS hallmark retailers view as secure. The scheme is endorsed by Government, the Association of Chief Police Officers and the Trading Standards Institute,
Responding to a report from the British Medical Association (BMA) ACS Chief Executive, James Lowman said: “Licensing for all shops selling tobacco would impose significant costs and bureaucracy on responsible retailers.
“Rather than this poorly targeted measure more must be done to focus on the irresponsible minority who are caught selling tobacco to the underage but are only receiving a fraction of the maximum £2500 fine available for the offence. Why invent new measures to catch all retailers when existing penalties are not being used effectively?”
The BMA’s report ‘Breaking the cycle of children's exposure to tobacco smoke’ proposes a range of measures including tobacco licensing. The report will increase the pressure on Government to impose further regulations as a means of tackling underage smoking.
“ACS and its members take their responsibility very seriously, not only because there are tough sanctions for selling tobacco to under 18s, but because we cherish our role in the community. As an industry leader ACS has promoted tough procedures to prevent young people buying tobacco, including the CitizenCard proof of age card, The Proof of Age Standards Scheme (PASS,) refusals registers and staff training. We absolutely believe that there is no room for complacency on this issue.”
“The whole community has a role to play in tackling underage smoking. As it stands there is no punishment for a young person who buys or smokes tobacco, we are disappointed that the BMA has not urged the Government to make it illegal for a young person to attempt to buy tobacco when underage, or to make it illegal for an adult to buy tobacco on behalf of someone underage. These two measures are a vital part of a comprehensive approach to reducing underage smoking and yet have been consistently ignored."
Contact:
Shane Brennan Public Affairs and Communications Manager
01252 515001/07921 372 978
Rachel Lawson Communications Co-ordinator
01252 515001
Notes to editors:
1. According to Department of Health there were 73 prosecutions in 2004 and the average fine awarded is £350.
2. Since it started CitizenCard has issued well over a million cards, materials are available free of charge at http://www.citizencard.net/
3. PASS is an accreditation scheme for proof of age cards, schemes bearing the PASS hallmark retailers view as secure. The scheme is endorsed by Government, the Association of Chief Police Officers and the Trading Standards Institute,