ACS calls on government to change plans

Chief executive at the ACS James Lowman said that there is no evidence such alterations would reduce the number of younger people who smoke cigarettes.

And he suggested that the move would cost retailers "millions of pounds", urging the government instead to attempt to tackle the problem of over-18s who buy tobacco for people underage.

The ACS stated that it has calculated that if the amount of illegal tobacco products available was lessened by a quarter then the health benefits would be great.

In a response to consultation with the government over the ban proposals, the organisation also said that it should be an illegal offence for adults to buy cigarettes for youths.

"Adults who buy tobacco on behalf of an under-18 do so in full knowledge that the person they are buying for is underage. This is the single most likely way that young people will be introduced to smoking, and as its stands nothing is done about it," he commented.

He added that the ACS is also willing to work alongside the government to ensure that current retail marketing practices are "tightened" in the future.

Nothing is being done about the fact that one in three young smokers obtain their products from the illicit trade, he stated.

The Tobaco Retailers Alliance stated last week that a petition it has started on a government website is proving to be popular.