A CAMPAIGN has been launched aimed at stamping out adults buying cigarettes for children in Dumbarton and the Vale.

The action aims to protect children from developing addiction, ill health and financial problems which are often started by adults giving them tobacco.

West Dunbartonshire Trading Standards is throwing its weight behind the national campaign, developed by Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) Scotland, with Scottish Government funding and strong support from Trading Standards representatives.

It follows a number of successful initiatives, including banning tobacco advertising, price increases and raising the age of purchasing cigarettes to 18.

The proportion of young people in Scotland who smoke has fallen to the lowest level since surveys began.

However, official figures show 36 young people under 16 still take up smoking every day in Scotland.

In launching the campaign, ASH says most children who smoke get their tobacco from friends, family and other people they know.

Often these adults think they are “doing them a favour”.

In response, the “Not A Favour” campaign makes it clear that helping anyone under-age to get hold of cigarettes is helping them into a range of problems.

Supporting the launch of the campaign in West Dunbartonshire, the council’s convener of corporate services, Councillor Ian Dickson, said: “In Scotland, we’ve made great progress on reducing the number of people who smoke. “However, there are still too many young people taking up the habit. Adults sometimes buy cigarettes for those who are too young to legally do so themselves – and that is something that simply has to stop.”

Cllr Iain McLaren, vice convener of corporate services, added: “This campaign aims to push home the message that smoking can lead to health, money and addiction problems and that the younger people start smoking, the harder they find it to give up later in life. We really want to keep tobacco out of the hands of young people.”

Trading Standards service co-ordinator, Tony Cairns, added: “West Dunbartonshire Trading Standards has worked over several years with health and education partners, as well as the police, on a number of initiatives designed to ensure that sellers of tobacco meet their legal obligations and our citizens are fully aware of the issues around smoking.

“We are delighted to participate in this national campaign and lend our further support to the fight to prevent young people from getting hooked on tobacco.”

It is illegal to sell cigarettes to anyone under 18, and research shows that adolescents become addicted to nicotine faster than adults, so find it harder to escape the health problems and financial costs from smoking.

The campaign is being backed locally with posters, flyers and on-street marketing, as well as a social media hashtag of #notafavour Visit www.ashscotland.org.uk for information.