From 1 October 2007 the Government is raising the legal age to purchase tobacco from 16 to 18 years old.
Lewisham Council has a statutory duty to ensure that the change to the law is implemented within the borough. Premises selling tobacco products are also required to display notices stating that it is illegal to sell tobacco products to anyone under the legal purchase age.
To help people understand the changes, Lewisham Council will be providing a range of information and advice to traders in the borough.
All local traders selling tobacco products will be given advice on how they can ensure that they are not breaking the law, by taking simple steps such as asking for ID when they are unsure about a person's age. Traders will also get a free 'warning' sticker to display in their business, advising customers that the new legal age to purchase cigarettes has increased to 18.
Staff from Lewisham Council will be carrying out a series of 'test purchases' at different outlets, to ensure that traders are complying with the change.
Traders and businesses can get more information about this change by going to www.tobaccoagechange.co.uk
For help and advice on stopping smoking, please call the Lewisham Stop Smoking Service on 08000 820 388 or email them at stop.smoking@lewishampct.nhs.uk. Alternatively you can contact the national Quitline on 0800 00 22 00.