Tobacco survey – 43% retailers do not enforce age restrictions

At the end of January, the City of Hafnarfjörður conducted a survey to find out whether
Teenagers could buy cigarettes at tobacco retail outlets in Hafnarfjörður. Two Year 10 pupils went to the outlets under the supervision of staff.
In Hafnarfjörður and tried to buy cigarettes. Six outlets sold
cigarettes to adolescents from 14 outlets or 43% outlets that are accessible
young people. The Sports and Leisure Committee of the City of Hafnarfjörður expressed concern about this development at its meeting yesterday and emphasises that the frequency of these surveys must be increased and that vendors must be repeatedly reminded to respect age limits. 

The aim is that no retailer sells tobacco to children and teenagers.

Places with a licence to sell alcohol where tobacco is sold were not visited. Further
Information from the survey is sent to the Health Surveillance of Kópavogur and
The Hafnarfjörður area, where they will be processed as provided by law.
The sales outlets are sent a result showing whether the respective outlet sold
tobacco to children. It can be expected that those places that sold tobacco to children will receive
a reminder from the health authority, as stipulated in the Tobacco Control Act. Surveys of children's access to tobacco in Hafnarfjörður have been decreasing.
in recent terms due to a decrease in cigarette smoking, but it is clear that
Less supervision makes it easier for children in Hafnarfjörður to get hold of
Tobacco. The Municipality of Hafnarfjörður has monitored children's access to tobacco for the last two decades.
and provided retailers with constant oversight.

The majority of retail outlets in Hafnarfjörður have entered into a special agreement with the sports and leisure representative, which aims to
to seek all means to prevent the sale of tobacco to children. In the last
The surveys have produced increasingly poor results. The aim is that no one
a retail outlet sells tobacco to children. Therefore, a sports and leisure officer, acting on behalf of the Sports
and the Hafnarfjörður Leisure Committee will continue with these surveys. The result
is shown in a picture in comparison with previous years. 

Article 8 of the Tobacco Advertising Act contains clear instructions on the sale of tobacco. Tobacco
may not be sold or given to persons under the age of 18. This prohibition shall
Prominently advertised where tobacco is sold. If there is any doubt about age
The sale to the buyer may only proceed if he presents proof of identity with a valid identity document.
that he has turned 18.

Further information is provided by Geir Bjarnason, Sports and Leisure Officer for the City of Hafnarfjörður. Email: geir@hafnarfjordur.is . Telephone: 585-5754