Cigarette sales to children soar by 50 per cent in a year

Sales of cigarettes to under-age children have increased by almost 50 per cent in the last year, an investigation suggests.

One retailer in five was found to be breaking the law during a six-month operation by trading standards officers from across England.

Under-age volunteers had even greater success with coin-operated vending machines, buying cigarettes on more than four in ten attempts without anyone intervening.

Some councils reported a 100 per cent failure by supervisors to prevent youngsters using them.

The findings prompted council leaders to call for a ban on such machines.

While they account for less than one per cent of cigarette sales, research suggests around one in six underage smokers considers them an 'easy target' compared with over-the-counter sales, the Local Government Association said.

Almost a quarter of independent newsagents surveyed illegally sold tobacco products to under-18s, risking a £2,500 fine if caught.

David Rogers of the LGA warned that under-age smokers were using vending machines after being turned away elsewhere.

He said: 'Banning coin-operated machines would mean they are no longer the easy target for young people that these shocking figures show they clearly are.'

Cllr Geoffrey Theobald, chairman of the Local Authorities Co-ordinators of Regulatory Services (Lacors), said: 'Despite the progress council trading standards teams have made in recent years on cutting underage sales, this worrying increase shows that retailers are not doing enough to make sure they aren't selling cigarettes to kids.

'This isn't rocket science and it isn't anything new for retailers. If they suspect someone is underage who can't prove otherwise, then they must refuse to serve them or face the consequences.

'Council trading standards officers will not hesitate to prosecute retailers who persistently flout the law and damage the health of young people by illegally selling cigarettes to children.'

A number of councils reported a 100 per cent failure rate in preventing young people from buying cigarettes from the machines.