Friday, May 16, 2008

Age limit 'encourages children to smoke'

An Edinburgh study suggests abolishing the legal age at which children can buy cigarettes would mean fewer take up the habit SCRAPPING the legal age limit for buying cigarettes would reduce dramatically the number of children who smoke, a study has claimed.

A survey of more than 92,000 teenagers in 27 countries has revealed that those living in nations where tobacco sales are not regulated are the least likely to take up the habit.

The study also found that raising the price of tobacco failed to cut the number of child smokers.

According to research by academics at the universities of Edinburgh and Copenhagen, outlawing the sale of cigarettes to minors makes them more desirable because smoking becomes a badge of maturity.

The children who took part in the survey, who were aged 13-15, were asked how frequently they smoked.

Those in countries where there is no age restriction on tobacco sales - such as Belgium, Denmark and France - were much less likely to light up.

The findings, published in the scientific journal Addiction, challenge the notion that restricting the sale of tobacco will encourage people to kick the habit.
 
 

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