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Almost two thirds (64 per
cent) of 11 to 16 year olds want
cigarettes put out of sight in shops.
Only 16 per cent do not agree with the
proposal. Researchers interviewed more
than 1,400 youngsters from across the
UK. The results
show the strength of support for new
tobacco control legislation being
discussed in the House of Lords on
Wednesday.
One of the key new
measures in the proposals is to remove
all tobacco products from sight in
shops. Researchers say there is good
evidence that this will help to reduce
the number of young people who start
smoking by protecting them from tobacco
marketing.
Almost three quarters
(72 per cent) of those who had never
smoked agreed that cigarettes should be
put out of sight. Occasional and regular
smokers and those who used to smoke or
have tried smoking were less likely to
agree.
More than half (55 per
cent) of those who smoked occasionally,
had smoked in the past or had tried
smoking, agreed that cigarettes should
be put out of sight. Nearly 30 per cent
of regular smokers also agreed. Girls
were more likely than boys to support
putting cigarettes out of sight - 67 per
cent of girls compared with 61per cent
of boys.
Professor Gerard
Hastings, lead researcher based at the
University of Stirling, said: "Children
see through the hypocrisy of the adult
world which tells them not to smoke, but
at the same time, allows tantalising
displays of tobacco products in shops up
and down the land.
"They also recognise
the simple truth that children have a
right to be protected from such
dangerous blandishments. Policy makers
must listen to them and ensure that
tobacco is put out of sight as soon as
possible."
Younger children were
also more likely to agree (77 per cent
of 11 year olds) than older children (51
per cent of 16 year olds) that
cigarettes should be put out of sight.
Harpal Kumar, Cancer
Research UK's chief executive, said:
"Tobacco advertising has been banned on
television, in print and on billboards.
Yet children are still regularly exposed
to branding on packs and attractive
tobacco displays in shops.
"Tobacco marketing
deliberately tries to build a
relationship with potential new young
smokers. Over 80 per cent of smokers
start before the age of 19 and half of
all long-term smokers will die from
cancer or other smoking-related diseases
- that's why we want to make smoking
history for our children. With so much
support from young people we urge
Parliament to listen and put tobacco out
of sight." |
