TOBACCO LAW CHANGE - LIBDEM CANDIDATE SAYS LOCAL SHOPS NEED SUPPORT

6.18.00pm GMT Tue 25th Sep 2007

West Worcestershire's Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Candidate, Richard Burt is backing a campaign by the Association of Convenience Stores, calling on residents across Worcestershire to support local retailers when the legal purchasing age for tobacco increases to 18yrs on the 1st October.

From that date retailers will only be allowed to sell tobacco products to those over 18 years of age. Mr Burt stressed the importance of raising awareness of this age change.

Richard Burt said:

"Preventing the underage sales of tobacco has to be a top priority. This is likely to reduce the chances of young people being able to buy tobacco in the long term."

""However, the transition has to be managed, and key to that is awareness in every town and village that the law has changed. Refusing age restricted sales is already a major reason for retailers facing abuse, intimidation and violence. This is likely to increase on 1st October, when older people will be asked for ID and some younger people can no longer buy tobacco. I ask residents everywhere to support retailers at this time."