Kaikohe tobacco retailers disappoint health officials

A controlled purchase operation (CPO) carried out earlier this month by the Northland District Health Board Public & Population Health Unit found four retailers in breach of the Smokefree Environments Act 1990.

The controlled purchase operation was conducted in the Mid North area from Omapere to Kawakawa and the northern suburbs of Whangarei.

The Smokefree Environment Act 1990 governs the sale of tobacco products to minors.   One of its principal aims is to protect children from developing an addiction that will cause an early death in 50% of smokers*.

CPO's are conducted randomly during the year, as required by the Ministry of Health, whereby children aged well below the legal age of 18 are used to approach retailers to purchase tobacco products under controlled conditions. If asked, the children involved always state their correct age.

Northland DHB smokefree officer, Wendy Antrobus says during the operation, four of thirty-three retailers were found in breach of the Act.  All occurred in the greater Kaikohe area, with nearly 50% of the attempted purchases resulting in sales, which was particularly disappointing.

"While retailers are often clear on the legislation, it appears in some areas, there continues to be a relaxed attitude toward compliance. I am at loss to understand why the message is not getting across to retailers.  This long standing legislation is designed to protect the health of all New Zealanders, specifically children" says Mrs Antrobus.

Although twenty-nine retailers questioned or refused the sale of cigarettes to the underage customers, four retailers still sold these children tobacco products, particularly concerning as three of the four sales were to a 14 year old.

Retailers should assess the age of teenagers by insisting on a form of photo identification from anyone who looks under the age of 25, "No photo identification, no sale. It is that simple" says Mrs Antrobus.

The maximum fine for selling to minors is up to $2,000.   While changes introduced by the 2003 amendments to the Smokefree Environments Act 1990, can result in repeat offending retailers being ordered not to sell tobacco products.

Details regarding the retailers who sold cigarettes to the 14 & 15 year olds will be forwarded to the Ministry of Health for a decision on further action which may include prosecution.

The regular CPO's help reinforce the legal obligations of business operators to make sure tobacco sales are not made to underage customers.  This is not about pointing the finger, but is rather about protecting our young people from the harmful effects of tobacco.

Any retailers requiring assistance with staff training and information can contact the Public and Population Health Unit at Northland District Health Board on (09) 430 4100.

-Ends-

For further information, please contact:
Paula Martin, Communications Officer
Northland District Health Board 
Phone (09) 430 4101 ext 3321

Fleur King, Public Relations Manager
Northland District Health Board
Phone (09) 430 4101 ext 3315

*Half of the people who smoke today and continue smoking will eventually be killed by tobacco.[i]. They will die an average of 15 years early.[ii]^{[iii] [iv]}

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[i]Ministry of Health. 2008. Tobacco control and smoking: Health effects of smoking. www.moh.govt.nz/moh.nsf/indexmh/tobacco-effects, retrieved 19 June 2009).

[ii] World Health Organization. 2006 Why is tobacco a public health priority? Tobacco Free Initiative. Retrieved on 23 January 2006 from www.who.int/tobacco/health_priority/en/print.html.

[iii]World Health Organization. 2008. The global tobacco crisis. www.who.int/tobacco/mpower/en/, retrieved 24 June 2009.

[iv]Peto, R. & Lopez, A. 1994. Mortality from Smoking in Developed Countries 1950-2000: Indirect estimates from national vital statistics. New York: Oxford University Press.