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Tobacco sales to kids – butted outResults from an assessment conducted by Latrobe City Council recently, have shown that local tobacco retailers are complying with enforcement of the current provisions of the Tobacco Act. By Latrobe City Council - 4th April 2006 - Back to News A key component of the provisions prohibits the selling of tobacco products to people under the age of 18.
Latrobe City mayor, Cr Lisa Price said, this was extremely pleasing news, as it was the first time in the four years since assessments began, that total compliance with laws regarding tobacco sales had been observed.
"There is no longer any doubt whatsoever that smoking is extremely hazardous to health and that young people are particularly vulnerable when it comes to taking up the habit. As such, governments have enacted laws that restrict promotion and access to tobacco products in an effort to deter young people from smoking, and make access to tobacco products less available," Cr Price said.
"It means that when the opportunity for minors to obtain cigarettes is removed, our young people are less exposed to the health risks associated with smoking, which has to be a big plus for our community.
"Local government plays a significant role through its health services team in ensuring the laws that relate to tobacco displays, advertising, and the selling of cigarettes to minors, are understood by proprietors, and complied-with fully," Cr Price said.
"As such, local councils conduct sporadic assessments to ensure compliance with the laws."
Latrobe City’s manager health services, Andrew Mackintosh, said that during a four year awareness program, Latrobe City Council has received funds from the Department of Human Services (DHS) to assist with the enforcement of the provisions of the Tobacco Act within Latrobe City.
"During this time, council's authorised officers visited tobacco retailers, shopping centres, restaurants, licensed premises, and bingo and gaming venues to ensure the provisions of the Act were complied with.
"Council and DHS also conducted regular mail-outs to proprietors during the first three years of this program, with an emphasis on education. This encouragement has assisted proprietors to understand their obligations to comply with the tobacco act," Mr Mackintosh explained.
"During the past six months, some thirty tobacco retailers in Traralgon, Tyers, Churchill, Boolarra, Yinnar, Moe and Morwell were visited by people employed to act as minors, who attempted to purchase cigarettes.
These ‘actors’ who are around 16 years of age, are employed under the supervision of two authorised officers of council In compliance with a strict protocol developed by DHS and Victorian council representatives.
"The premises are selected by a random process and include those from all areas across the municipality. Particular attention is paid to premises that have been found selling cigarettes to minors on earlier visits," Mr Mackintosh said.
"We were very pleased to find that when our last assessment was undertaken, that all of the retailers were found to be cooperating fully with the provision. This was the first time that these assessments have demonstrated one-hundred percent compliance.
"During this assessment, in each case the authorised ‘actors’ were asked for identification to prove that they were over 18 years of age by the tobacco sellers; and because they could not produce the correct identification, they were not sold cigarettes," Mr Mackintosh said.
Source: www.gippsland.com Published by: news@gippsland.com
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