Going up in smoke: Under-age sales of cigarettes

The Tobacconist Award Scheme was set up in July this year by Test Valley's environment and health service with Trading Standards and the health authorities.

Andover has higher than the national average number of teenagers smoking on a regular basis, and statistics show that a youngster is very likely to become an addicted smoker even if they try one cigarette.

The project was aimed at retailers of tobacco products who demonstrate a responsible approach towards the legal and health implications of selling tobacco to children under the age of 16. It was also designed to be a reward for good practice and to enhance the policy that retailers should already have in place.

Trading Standards officer Kevan Morley, who operates the scheme, said: "I am very pleased with the reaction and take-up of the traders in the Test Valley area. This has been backed up by the fact that with 13 attempted sales as part of our test purchase programme, not one of the premises in this area sold tobacco to our under-age person.

"Levels of compliance were high, although some retailers are still not displaying the statutory warning notice that it is illegal to sell to under 16-year-olds.

"The success of the Tobaccon-ists Award Scheme in Test Valley has given the Trading Standards Service the impetus to extend the award to other parts of Hampshire."

A survey carried out in secondary schools in the Test Valley area earlier this year revealed that 62 per cent of 14 to 15-year-olds buy their cigarettes from newsagents, garages and supermarkets. Nationally, some £100 million worth of cigarettes are sold to under-age customers each year.

Louisa Rice of Test Valley Borough Council said: "A programme of education is also being carried out in schools to back up the scheme."

If any member of the public knows of a tobacconist retailer selling to under 16-year-old children, there is a confidential hotline they can call to leave a message - 0845 603 0081.