Call for action to halt rising tide of child smokers

Almost 20,000 children in Scotland start smoking every year, according to research by a cancer charity.

Young people aged 11 to 15 are picking up the habit at a rate of 19,900 each year, figures released by Cancer Research UK show.

The charity has called on the Scottish Government to act quickly on its pledge to introduce legislation on plain packaging for cigarettes. A similar move by the UK Government was put on hold earlier this year.

Research shows packaging without branding is less appealing to children, the charity said.

Vicky Crichton, the charity’s senior public affairs manager in Scotland, said: “Smoking is a serious problem in Scotland with almost 20,000 children, tempted by glitzy, slickly designed packs, being lured into starting smoking every year.

“If the Scottish Government is serious about curbing the death toll caused by this lethal habit and meeting its goal for Scotland to become a nation free from tobacco by 2034, then swift action needs to be taken.”