Smoking age in Slough goes up to 18
From October 1, 2007 it will be illegal to sell cigarettes or knives to anyone under the age of 18.
In July of this year, Slough Borough Council’s trading standards team sent out mail shots to retailers in the borough who sell cigarettes, to advise them of the new legislation.
All Slough premises selling these goods have been visited by trading standards staff and handed a free information pack, which explains the statutory tobacco notice required by law to be displayed, general guidance on the legislative requirements and information on the “No I.D No Sale” policy which the trading standards team supports.
During the visits the officers answered any questions the retailers had in complying with the new legislations.
By the end of October, a questionnaire will be sent out to all Slough premises visited for feedback and to find out whether trading standards can do more to help.
Slough trading standards will continue to provide free proof-of-age cards to all 16 year olds attending Slough schools.
Lina Johnson, senior trading standards officer at Slough Borough Council, said: “The new legislation has been welcomed by trading standards as it will not only deter young people from smoking, but will make it easier for shop owners to distinguish the age of a customer.
“It is all too easy for underaged children to pose as 16 year olds. Increasing the legal age to 18 makes it all the more harder for them to purchase cigarettes and knives.”
“We will continue to work with all the premises’ in the town that sell cigarettes and support them in any way we can.
“We will also continue to monitor the situation by carrying out undercover test purchasing exercises on the sale of age restricted products throughout the rest of the year.”
Cllr John Edwards, commissioner for Slough public protection, added: “The new laws, for both smoking and buying knives, stating that young people have to be 18 or over is a much welcomed move.
“As we all know, smoking can cause many illnesses and if we can try and deter as many young people as possible from being able to obtain cigarettes the better, and the same goes for knives.
“All the shops in Slough which sell these items have been thoroughly briefed on the new laws and we will expect them to comply with them.”
Slough Borough Council