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Last Updated: Sep 18th, 2007 - 14:02:19 |
Smoking survey finds shocking results
Sep 18, 2007, 13:56
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Schoolchildren in Wigan are buying cigarettes from ice cream vans - this was the shocking discovery trading standards officers made when they surveyed children in Wigan secondary schools. This was the shocking discovery trading standards officers made when they surveyed children in Wigan secondary schools. Questionnaires were completed by 950 pupils at six high schools across the borough. Around a quarter of all the 14 to 17-year-olds surveyed admitted they smoked. The survey found younger smokers, in the 14 and 15 age bracket, were more likely to have obtained cigarettes from illegitimate sources such as from ice cream vans, car boot sales or neighbours. Others had managed to get hold of cigarettes through older brother or sisters. The study also reveals that 68% of 14-17 year old smokers in Wigan have bought imported cigarettes – which can carry increased health risks. And it shows that young smokers are also likely to drink alcohol more frequently than non-smokers. More than half of the children who said they smoked also admitted that they drank alcohol twice a week. This compared to 16% of non-smokers who drink twice a week. The survey was carried out as part of a trading standards investigation into how under age youngsters obtain alcohol and cigarettes. Wigan Council will not reveal which six schools were surveyed, but says they were selected for their geographical spread acrossthe borough. The findings of the survey were published in a report which went before members of the council's community protection committee on Monday. The report states: "Half of teenagers who are currently smoking will die from diseases caused by tobacco if they continue to smoke. "Someone who starts smoking at 15 is three times as likely to die from cancer due to smoking than someone who starts in their mid 20s. "Evidence suggests that where people think they are buying imported or duty free cigarettes that they are often buying counterfeit cigarettes which can impose an even greater health risk. "We will liaise with local schools to make pupils aware of the added dangers of purchasing cigarettes from illegitimate sources and we will actively target the identified sources of these products." On October 1, the legal age for the sale of tobacco rises from 16 to 18 in line with alcohol in a bid to prevent young teenagers from starting smoking. Products affected include cigarettes, cigars, loose tobacco and cigarette papers. Wigan Trading Standards says it will carry out test purchases at 50 retail outlets throughout the borough to ensure shopkeepers are abiding by the new legislation. This will involve undercover trading standards officers working with an under age volunteer to see if the child is able to buy cigarettes from various shops.
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