ASH Australia media release                                     November 2, 2004

Survey shows kids need more protection from tobacco

Call for out-of-sight sales and retailer registration scheme

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Governments should move to get all tobacco products out of sight and should register all tobacco dealers to improve regulation and enforcement, says Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) Australia.

ASH today responded to the release of a three-year survey by the NSW Health Department and the Cancer Council NSW*, showing smoking rates increasing for girls between the ages of 12 and 15.

The survey also revealed 22% of teenagers were buying cigarettes freely from shops including supermarkets and petrol stations; and a third of the child respondents said they had never been asked to provide identification proving their age.

Says ASH Chief Executive Anne Jones:
“This survey shows ‘self-regulation’ isn’t working to protect children from being illegally supplied cigarettes in shops. There will always be unscrupulous tobacco dealers who have a long track record of pitching their product to kids, despite laws banning sales to children.

While some governments register tobacco dealers to help stamp out lawbreakers, other states including NSW have buckled to pressure from retailer associations which oppose more regulation - including storing tobacco displays out of sight.

“As a result,”  says Anne Jones,  “there are more than a quarter of a million Australian schoolkids puffing away weekly – and another forty thousand taking it up every year.

“A registration scheme for all tobacco dealers has been recommended in a report to the federal government.**  The benefits would include a self-funded education program, improved enforcement of laws including penalties and loss of license for anyone who sells to children.

“We need to put the health of children ahead of the vested interests of tobacco dealers, including Coles and Woolworths. These recommendations will not inconvenience smokers wanting access to tobacco.

“We call on governments to improve the health of children and teenagers by introducing registration schemes for all tobacco dealers and requiring tobacco displays to be stored out of sight in all retail outlets.“

* “The Health Behaviour of Secondary Students in NSW 1998-2002” at www.health.nsw.gov.au/pubs/2004/assad2002.html

** “Licensing of Tobacco Retailers and Wholesalers” report at www.health.gov.au/internet/wcms/publishing.nsf/Content/health-pubhlth-strateg-drugs-tobacco-other.htm-copy7/$FILE/licensing_tobacco.pdf

Comment:   Anne Jones, CEO   ph. (02) 9334-1876   m. 0417-227-879

Media inquiries:   Stafford Sanders   ph. (02) 9334-1823   m. 0412-070-194       

Page last updated on 2/11/04