Northern Ireland raising age for sale of tobacco from 16 to 18 joining the other three United Kingdom (UK) countries.

July 10, 2008 - Northern Ireland raising age for sale of tobacco from 16 to 18 joining the other three United Kingdom (UK) countries (1 Oct 2007). (The UK is a union of four constituent countries: England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.) Health Minister Michael McGimpsey has announce, effective September 1, 2008, that the legal age at which people can buy tobacco products will rise from 16 to 18. Mr. McGimpsey: "It is clear that we must do all we can to deter our children and young people from taking up the smoking habit. I understand that raising the age of sale will not, in itself, solve the problems of children's smoking. It is one step along the way. "Education programmes and promotional campaigns, highlighting the dangers of smoking, will of course continue." Reference: Tobacco buying age to rise to 18, BBC News, 6/30/2008. Related news brief: Raise Age to 21 to Purchase Tobacco Products.. Northern Ireland's Five Year Tobacco Action Plan. The European Union, in which the UK is a member, has in place a ban on the sale of oral snuff. (TobaccoWatch.org)