Shops that sell cigarettes to minors face tobacco sale ban

Shops that sell cigarettes to children are to be banned from selling any tobacco products, under a stringent new law designed to crack down on under-age smoking. The Government is also to raise the age that cigarettes can be bought from 16 to 18.

The unprecedented move will infuriate tobacco manufacturers who are expected to claim that they are being discriminated against.

But health ministers are determined to restrict children's access to cigarettes, amid fears that smoking among teenagers is showing no sign of abating. Some fear that raising the age that tobacco can be bought from 16 to 18 could increase its cachet and even encourage teenagers to smoke.

Government sources said the crackdown would be brought in "very shortly". A clause in a new Bill in the Queen's Speech, later this month, is expected to include measures to license the sale of tobacco, like alcohol. The licence to sell tobacco would be revoked if a shop repeatedly flouts the law on sales to minors.

The move is expected to be welcomed by anti-smoking campaigners.

A government source said: "Shops that repeatedly sell to minors will not be able to sell cigarettes under the changes we are planning. We do not need a full Bill for this. It is on the cards."