 |
answer text |
<p>Most smokers start using tobacco regularly before the age of 18 so the Government
has taken action to reduce the numbers of young people taking up smoking, for example
by implementing legislation to end the open display of tobacco in shops.</p><p> </p><p>
</p><p> </p><p>Tobacco can no longer be sold from vending machines in England, which
has removed an easily accessible source of cigarettes for underage smokers. We introduced
a package of measures in the Children and Families Act aimed at protecting young people
from tobacco and nicotine addiction and the serious health harms of smoked tobacco,
including ending smoking in private vehicles carrying children and introducing an
age of sale for electronic cigarettes.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Our strategy
is working and it is welcome news that smoking rates among young people are also falling,
with 8% of 15 year olds smoking. This achieves the national ambition to reduce smoking
in 15 year olds to 12% or less by the end of 2015.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>We
are committed to reducing the number of young people using drugs and ensuring that
they are equipped with the information they need to make informed, healthy decisions
and to keep themselves safe is essential. We are investing in a range of programmes
which have a positive impact on young people, giving them the confidence, resilience
and risk management skills to choose not to misuse drugs and/or alcohol. Examples
include:</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>- through mainstream support and the FRANK
drug information and advice service we are providing tailored information and advice
to young people and to parents, to help them protect their children from drug and/or
alcohol misuse;</p><p> </p><p>- drug and alcohol education is part of national curriculum
science at key stage 2 and key stage 3 and schools are encouraged, by the Department
of Education, to build on this provision through the Personal, Social, Health and
Economic (PSHE) teaching within their classrooms; and</p><p> </p><p>- we have also
developed online tools for educators and commissioners that include the Alcohol and
Drug Education and Prevention Information Service (ADEPIS) which provides practical
advice and tools based on the best international evidence; and the Centre for the
Analysis of Youth Transitions (CAYT) has developed a database of evaluations of programmes
aimed at improving outcomes for young people.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>In addition,
this winter, Public Health England is aiming to launch Rise Above, an online resource
and social movement designed to build young people’s (11-16 years old) resilience
and empower them to make positive choices for their health. This includes equipping
them with the resilience skills to tackle the health challenges of adolescence and
handle risky situations.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The Government’s Alcohol Strategy
set out several measures to support our commitment to reducing underage drinking.
These include educating young people on the risks associated with alcohol and by addressing
factors that can influence young people’s attitude to alcohol, such as parental drinking.
We are ensuring that guidance is available for parents through a range of public and
community organisations including; NHS Choices, Directgov, Family Lives, and NetMum,
Mumsnet, Dad Talk and Contact a Family.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The Government
has also reformed the Licensing Act to give local communities more powers. The Act
includes provisions to double fines for under-age alcohol sales to £20,000 and give
councils and the police the power to shut permanently shops or bars that persistently
sell to children.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p>
|
|
