Four out of every five shops sell cigarettes to the under-age contravening the law, hence a licensing system is needed to regulate tobacco products sellers.

These are the findings of a survey conducted by the Committee on Youth Smoking Prevention between July 2 and August 8.

The committee sent 33 youth volunteers aged between 13 and 17 years to 1,249 retailers to buy cigarettes and determine whether they violated the Smoking (Public Health) Ordinance, which carried a fine of up to HK$25,000.

The youngsters were sold cigarettes by 81.1 per cent of the retailers, with 79.2 per cent not even bothering to ask their age. Shockingly, 24 retailers gave them the cigarettes even after realizing they were below 18.

Newspaper vendors were the least strict in their sales habits, with 91.4 per cent not respecting the law. They were followed by groceries (91.4 per cent) and restaurants (85.8 per cent). Convenience stores had the highest compliance rate, even though only 49.8 per cent followed the law.

One of the volunteers, 17-year-old Carol, was shocked by the results and by the attitude of the retailers. Even after she told some of the retailers that she wouldn't buy the cigarettes after being given a pack, they encouraged her to "try".

"The retailers asked me to go to their shop the next time I needed cigarettes," Carol said.

Legislator Alan Leong urged the health authorities to intensify checks and prosecution. Only one person was prosecuted in 2004. The figure rose to nine between January 2005 to July 2006. "The authorities are lenient. The retailers are not deterred," Leong said.

Committee vice-chairman Thomas Tse sees a licensing system as a necessity. Retailers selling cigarettes to the under-age should be fined and have their licences suspended, he said. Tse urged the government to hold more educational programmes for retailers so that all of them become familiar with the law.

A survey conducted by the committee in 2005 had showed that 70 per cent of young smokers had their first cigarette between the age of 10 and 14.

Tse said the trend was worrying and immediate action needed to be taken. "It's easy for children to buy cigarettes. We are dissatisfied with the retailers. More and more youngsters will smoke if this trend continues," he said.

(HK Edition 09/06/2006 page2)