ACS Urges Minister to Rethink
08 May 2007
The Association of Convenience Stores (ACS), the campaigning voice of over 33,000 local shops, has written to Public Health Minister Caroline Flint demanding that the Government take the threat of violence towards shopworkers, as a result of the increase in legal purchasing age for buying tobacco, seriously.
ACS made the demands in response to Caroline Flint’s earlier comments in Parliament concerning raising the legal purchasing age of tobacco. Responding to a Parliamentary question, the Health Minister said that increasing the age to 18 would not result in serious intimidation or violence against shopkeepers.
James Lowman, Chief Executive of ACS, said: “The comments of the Health Minister are flippant and incorrect. Shopworkers already have to face intimidation as part of their job, and asking for proof of age is a major cause of conflict. Young people who currently have the right to buy and smoke will have this right taken away from the 1st October. It will not be Caroline Flint refusing these people tobacco but frontline retailers and shopworkers.
“The UK has a culture were young people think nothing of attempting to buy products underage, and this leads to confrontation and conflict. The Government needs to act to change this culture, and a significant first step would be to make attempting to buy tobacco when underage an offence. This would demonstrate that it is equally unacceptable for a young person to try and obtain tobacco as it is for the retailer to sell it to them.
“The Government needs to make sure it provides adequate preparation and resources for the communication campaign to inform retailers and young people of the change. It is will help make shopworkers safer if young people expect to be asked for ID when purchasing tobacco. ACS continues to press for this. “
Contact:
Shane Brennan Public Affairs and Communications Manager
01252 515001/ 07921 372 978
Rachel Lawson Communications Co-ordinator
01252 515001
Notes to editors:
1) ACS is the convenience store champion, helping local shops thrive through lobbying, insight, information and commercial services.
2) USDAW figures from “Freedom From Fear” report (2004).
3) Parliamentary Question 24 April 2007:
Mr. Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what plans her Department has to publicise the change in the age at which tobacco can legally be purchased; (2) what discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for the Home Department on measures to ensure that the increase in the age for the legal purchase of tobacco is not accompanied by abuse, intimidation or violence as a result of refusal of sale; and if she will make a statement.
Caroline Flint: The change in the minimum age for selling tobacco from 16 to 18 will come into force on 1 October 2007. Communication plans are in development and the Department is in discussion with key stakeholders. The Department will focus on publicising the change in age to the two most affected groups: retailers and teenagers.
The Department and Home Office have discussed the issue at official level. It is not expected that the rise in the age of sale will result in serious intimidation or violence against shopkeepers. This has not been the experience in other countries for example like Ireland where the minimum age for tobacco sale has been changed recently. Trading Standards guidance for retailers will include advice on handling intimidation by customers refused sale because they cannot prove that they meet the minimum age.
ACS made the demands in response to Caroline Flint’s earlier comments in Parliament concerning raising the legal purchasing age of tobacco. Responding to a Parliamentary question, the Health Minister said that increasing the age to 18 would not result in serious intimidation or violence against shopkeepers.
James Lowman, Chief Executive of ACS, said: “The comments of the Health Minister are flippant and incorrect. Shopworkers already have to face intimidation as part of their job, and asking for proof of age is a major cause of conflict. Young people who currently have the right to buy and smoke will have this right taken away from the 1st October. It will not be Caroline Flint refusing these people tobacco but frontline retailers and shopworkers.
“The UK has a culture were young people think nothing of attempting to buy products underage, and this leads to confrontation and conflict. The Government needs to act to change this culture, and a significant first step would be to make attempting to buy tobacco when underage an offence. This would demonstrate that it is equally unacceptable for a young person to try and obtain tobacco as it is for the retailer to sell it to them.
“The Government needs to make sure it provides adequate preparation and resources for the communication campaign to inform retailers and young people of the change. It is will help make shopworkers safer if young people expect to be asked for ID when purchasing tobacco. ACS continues to press for this. “
Contact:
Shane Brennan Public Affairs and Communications Manager
01252 515001/ 07921 372 978
Rachel Lawson Communications Co-ordinator
01252 515001
Notes to editors:
1) ACS is the convenience store champion, helping local shops thrive through lobbying, insight, information and commercial services.
2) USDAW figures from “Freedom From Fear” report (2004).
3) Parliamentary Question 24 April 2007:
Mr. Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what plans her Department has to publicise the change in the age at which tobacco can legally be purchased; (2) what discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for the Home Department on measures to ensure that the increase in the age for the legal purchase of tobacco is not accompanied by abuse, intimidation or violence as a result of refusal of sale; and if she will make a statement.
Caroline Flint: The change in the minimum age for selling tobacco from 16 to 18 will come into force on 1 October 2007. Communication plans are in development and the Department is in discussion with key stakeholders. The Department will focus on publicising the change in age to the two most affected groups: retailers and teenagers.
The Department and Home Office have discussed the issue at official level. It is not expected that the rise in the age of sale will result in serious intimidation or violence against shopkeepers. This has not been the experience in other countries for example like Ireland where the minimum age for tobacco sale has been changed recently. Trading Standards guidance for retailers will include advice on handling intimidation by customers refused sale because they cannot prove that they meet the minimum age.