EU targets teen smokers

19th September 2007

TEEN smokers in Wales are set to get help to stub it out, after Euro-MPs voted in favour of new measures to help youngsters kick the habit.

The European Parliament's Environment Committee has called for the EU to undertake to cut the numbers of young smokers in Europe in half by 2025.

Among the measures MEPs put forward to make it harder for youngsters to buy cigarettes is:
 limiting access to cigarette machines
 banning distance sales of tobacco products to young people (e.g. over the internet)

They also called for all EU countries to introduce an unrestricted smoking ban within two years and for tobacco smoke to be declared a class 1 carcinogen.

ELUNED MORGAN said:

"The numbers of young people smoking is of great concern. Along with the existing ban in enclosed public places I want to see new measures aimed specifically at young people - including addressing the affordability and ease of access of cigarettes - to help them kick the habit."

GLENYS KINNOCK added:

"We know that young people often buy cigarettes from vending machines because of the lack of age checks and that they buy packs of 10 because they are cheaper. In addressing this, the EU can make a real difference to the health of our young people and tackle the biggest preventable cause of death in Europe."

Notes

1. In the EU 650 000 a year die from smoking, including 80 000 from passive smoking, with children and unborn babies being particularly vulnerable. While 70% of Europeans are non-smokers, 86% are in favour of a ban on smoking at work, 84% in other public places, 61% in bars and pubs and 77% in restaurants.

For more information please contact Lisa Stevens at the Labour European Office on +44 (0) 29 2022 7654 or +44 (0) 79 7367 8175

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