THE minimum age limit for smoking will rise to 18, ministers will announce this week.
An advisory group of health chiefs is set to report back to the Scottish Executive, recommending an increase in the smoking age, currently at 16.
Ministers already have the power in law to raise the age limit, meaning that the move could happen a
s early as next spring.
The crackdown is the latest bid by the Scottish Executive to improve Scotland's health, and follows the introduction of the ban on smoking in public places earlier this year.
International evidence suggests that increases in the smoking age limit have led to sharp reductions in the amount of under-age smoking.
Figures for 2004 show that 14% of 15-year-old boys and 24% of 15-year-old girls smoke regularly.
Surveys also show that hundreds of children aged just 13 are smoking regularly, with 6% admitting that they smoke on a regular basis.
The change in the age limit will mark the first overhaul in 70 years, when the 16-year-old limit was first imposed.
Surveys show that under-16s currently have little difficulty in buying cigarettes from shops, even though they are underage.
Duncan McNeil MSP, who has led the campaign for the reduction in the age limit, said last night: "This has become a massive anomaly.
"The smoking ban legislation has challenged the smoking habits of adults, but we did nothing to challenge the smoking of young people who do not smoke in public places."
He added: "If we can prevent young people from getting addicted then we will be making a big improvement in public health in Scotland. This will be another case of Scotland leading by example on smoking."
The British Medical Association, which recently carried out a report showing 19% of 15-year-olds are smoking regularly, is also in favour of an over-18 policy.
Forest, the group which represents smokers' rights, says it is not opposed to the raising of the age limit, but says concerns remain about how the move would be enforced.
The increase in the age limit comes after Asda decided that it would only allow 18-year-olds and over to purchase cigarettes in all of its stores across Britain.
From last week, young smokers have had to produce a passport, photo driving licence, or another proof of age card before they are served.
The full article contains 445 words and appears in Scotland On Sunday newspaper.
