Why the law has changed
Most addicted adult smokers began smoking as teenagers. This change in law is to help prevent children and young people from starting to smoke therefore avoiding the serious health dangers of smoking.
- A lifelong smoker has a one in two chance of their addiction killing them.
- The younger a smoker starts the more likely they are to be killed by their addiction.
- The earlier children become regular smokers and continue to smoke as adults, the greater the risk of developing lung cancer or heart disease.
- Someone who starts smoking at 15 is three times as likely to die from cancer due to smoking than someone who starts in their mid-20s.
The change in the age of sale for tobacco products is an important step in trying to reduce the number of people exposed to smoking related diseases, which is why it still carries a fine of up to a £2,500 for those who don’t comply.
