ACS

ACS has criticized comments made by Lord Darzi speaking for the Government in response to a written question in the House of Lords. Lord Darzi stated that the Government did not support a law banning proxy sales of tobacco; “it would be extremely difficult to enforce and therefore be of limited value in the Government's efforts to reduce smoking among young people under the age of 18”. ACS has responded in writing and continues to lobby Ministers to bring a law banning proxy purchasing.

ACS Chief Executive James Lowman said: “Lord Darzi’s refusal to ban proxy purchases of tobacco, and the tone of his comments will not wash with retailers and they do not wash with ACS. For the Government to claim that a measure is ‘too difficult’ is totally unacceptable. Do retailers refuse to comply with Government policies because they are too bureaucratic or difficult? Retailers and shopworkers who face abuse and intimidation on a daily basis deserve more respect than this.

“Lord Darzi and the Government are missing the point and are in danger of missing a big opportunity to promote a change in attitudes to under age purchases of all products. Only by putting the onus on the purchaser as well as the retailer will we change the culture on this issue.

“We are continuing to lobby the Justice Minister David Hanson to use this opportunity to ban proxy purchases which we know is the main way in which young people get hold of tobacco. This move would also benefit hundreds of thousands of law abiding retailers and staff.”

ACS continues to press for a change in the law on proxy purchasing as part of new rules giving Magistrates the power to ban premises from selling tobacco as contained in the Criminal Justice and Immigration Bill currently before Parliament.