Sale of cigarettes to children in Exeter.

The sale of cigarettes to children in Exeter was investigated. Thirty-seven local shops were visited and the salespeople interviewed: 28 incorrectly understood the relevant law and seven had no knowledge of it. Only seven people said they tried to keep within the law. Only two of the 37 shops were displaying the Tobacco Advisory Council's explanatory notice sent to every cigarette retailer in the United Kingdom in 1981. Every shop sold cigarettes. It is proposed that: a notice explaining the law be displayed in all cigarette retailing shops; the tobacconist's licence (abolished in 1963) be reintroduced; and local civic and health authorities combine to educate retailers, their staff and the public.