Ban 10-cigarette packs

[AB Asks]

Doctors have called for a ban on 10-cigarette packs to discourage children from smoking. The British Medical Association wants shops to keep cigarettes under the counter, vending machines banned and the price of cigarettes to be increased. What do you think? Are children still going to be able to get hold of cigarettes despite preventative measures? What about legal smokers � should they pay the price for the deviant behaviour of some children?

[Reverandfunk]

The whole smoking issue really annoys me. I smoke, I know filthy habit, bad for you etc etc but the fact is the government on one hand pretend to be bothered by the effects but on the other are quite happy to have the 85 odd percent duty from every pack. So which is it? As long as fags are available kids will smoke them, the same as with alcohol. The only solution would be to ban cigarettes but thats never going to happen and people would soon cry if their income tax went up by 8p overnight.

[Gromit]

It is illegal to sell cigarettes in any quantities to under 16's. If this was properly enforced, and shopkeepers who persistantly sell to young children were regularly prosecuted, then the problem of children buying cigarettes would be solved.

Of course, children are taught the habit by their parent(s) and are exposed to cigarette smoke in the home, so I would target the parents instead of the children.

I would support any measures designed to deter people of any ages from smoking.

[gina32]

gromit your last statement is rubbish, myself and my daughters father hate smoking with a vengence, so how come my daughter smokes???

[Loosehead]

I agree, I think stopping packs of 10 will make it more difficult for youngsters to obtain ciggarettes. I also think increasing the price is a good idea. I Think though that we'll only discourage smoking in the young if we can change the image of smokers and the mindset of those who who do it. That's the real challenge, ...... I feel a question comming on!

To the smokers: how much would they need to be for you to give up? �10? �20? �100? Yes I know in reality you'd go to the bootleggers but for the purposes of research I'm interested in what price would be prohibitive.

[Gromit]

gina32,

I didn't say children of non smokers wouldn't start smoking, I said children of smokers were more likely to start. I do not known your daughter circumstances - did she get the habit from partner or friends perhaps. The link below has some stats that illustrate the poit better.


http://216.239.59.104/search?q=cache:151YhhTm7 kMJ:www.dpp.org.uk/media/images/key%2520stats_ 81.pdf+Children+of+smokers+more+likely+to+star t&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=11&gl=uk

[gina32]

no she didnt get the habit form her partner, dont know where she got it from just know that its so disgusting

[gina32]

a colleague of mine smokes and also gives her 13 year old daughter them and then has the cheek to go to docs and get help to quit!!!

[Gromit]

I don't think many kids buy cigs themselves at the shops so banning the 10 (cheaper) packets is pointless. They get older friends or strangers (or parents!) to buy them for them.

Maybe it should be an offense (with a decent fine) to give cigarettes to children by purchasing, gifting or distibuting when you know the user will be under 16.

Rather like the suppliers of drugs are punished.

[kwicky]

Just like buying packets of sweets, a bigger bag will not last twice as long, so probably the consumption of cigarettes will go up.

[Trotbot]

A lot of countries already ban packs of less than 20 to reduce the incidence of children smoking (Malaysia still sells packs in 7s). A ban on smaller packs has not shown a direct reduction in children smoking, as there are so many other factors and what often happens is children pool their money, or that one child buys cigarettes and sells them individually to others.
Banning vending machines may make a difference. In Germany they used to be on every street corner, but not now (and the old Marl used to be the same size as an old 5p, so a pack of 20 could be obtained for 20p!)
Thailand recently banned the display of cigarettes, it is too early to say what the impact will be. As I ex-smoker, it would not have deterred me once I was smoking. However, if all these measures make smoking less cool for kids, then if may help. However, more regulation tends to encourage more rebellion!

[kwicky]

A trip to a lung cancer ward will deter many from carrying on smoking.