A campaign has been launched in Carmarthenshire, Wales to prevent children from purchasing cigarettes. Trading Standards officers distributed information packs to retailers reminding them that the legal age to purchase tobacco products was raised from 16 to 18. The campaign aims to educate retailers on their responsibility to check proof of age and not sell tobacco to minors. A team from Ysgol Gyfun Emlyn high school in Newcastle Emlyn won the Welsh regional final of the UK's Young Consumers of the Year competition and will now represent Wales in the national final in Brighton.

1. Carmarthenshire Standard
Raising the Standard for Proof of Age in Carmarthenshire
Carmarthenshire Campaign
Smokes it out
A MAJOR campaign has been launched
to prevent children in Carmarthenshire
buying cigarettes. Shops throughout
the county are being reminded of their
responsibility to avoid selling tobacco
to youngsters aged under 18.
Trading Standards officers Twenty four per cent of the
have distributed information adult population of Wales
packs to retailers throughout smokes, and it is estimated
Carmarthenshire setting out that smoking causes around
their legal responsibilities 6,000 deaths in Wales in
and telling them about each year. The total cost
the council’s VALIDATE to the NHS in England and
UK proof of age scheme. Wales of treating smoking
The campaign is part of related illness is £1.5 billion Executive board member for housing and public protection
a national initiative co- annually with some 34 Cllr Hugh Evans said: “This educational campaign is being
ordinated by the Wales million working days lost a carried out to ensure that retailers understand the change in
Heads of Trading Standards year. The minimum age for the law on the age at which youngsters can buy tobacco and
Group, representing all 22 tobacco sales was raised tobacco-related products. It is important that they understand
Trading Standards Services from 16 to 18 in October that those products cannot be sold to anyone under the age
in Wales. 2007. of 18 and that they should ask to see proof of age. “
Trading Standards Head of public protection
enforcement officer Mike Philip Davies said: “The
Grace said: “We have most recent figures for Wales
distributed about 200 (2004), suggest that 28 per
information packs to shops cent of 15-year-old girls and
throughout the county 19 per cent of 15-year-old
advising them of their boys smoke regularly, which
responsibility on under age is higher than England at 24
sales of tobacco products per cent and 16 per cent
and related items such respectively, and that the
as cigarette lighter refills. average age at which these
We are pointing out that in regular smokers began
the near future we will be smoking was just 12. It is
carrying out test purchasing an issue in Carmarthenshire
visits using young that young people are
volunteers. Retailers who gaining access to tobacco
Chivers Corner Service Station with Manager Cliff and Mike Grace from
sell to under age children products and it is vital that
Carmarthenshire Trading Standards
could be reported with a we tackle this issue.”
view to prosecution.”
VALIDATE UK, Main House, Bishop’s Yard, Main Street, CORBRIDGE, Northumberland NE45 5LA
Tel: 01434 634996 Email: info@validateuk.co.uk Website:www.validateuk.co.uk

2. Carmarthenshire Standard Raising the Standard for Proof of Age in Carmarthenshire
Evey Little
Helps…
Tesco, Caramarthenshire County
Council Trading Standards & the
police team up to get the Challenge
21 message promoted !
It’s a Wheely Good Idea !
Young people in Carmarthenshire who have a VALIDATE UK proof-
of-age card can use it to have a free driving lesson.
Marilyn Baverstock, Campaign Manager, AA Driving School
said: “AA driving school is happy to be working with Validate to
encourage youngsters to adopt a more responsible approach
The AA driving school, which has to driving and road safety right from the outset. Young
successfully taught more than a million drivers are the most ‘at risk’ driving group, largely through
drivers, has joined forces with Validate inexperience, a poor attitude towards speeding, a need to
UK to give learner drivers the best show off in front of others as well as misuse of alcohol and
possible start. drugs.
Validate card holders who book their Never leave it to chance. We don’t. AA driving school uses
first two lessons with the AA will have only fully qualified instructors who are committed to providing
their third lesson free. They must already hold a provisional you with quality tuition. “
driving licence.
Carmarthenshire County Council trading standards officer
Mike Grace, who runs the Validate scheme in Carmarthenshire,
said: “This offer is mainly aimed at people who have just
reached driving age to help them start off. It is an incentive for
the youngsters.”
TM
k.co.uk
www.validateu
Any Validate card holders wanting to book lessons with the 18 on/ar
16 on/ar
AA driving school should contact 0800 294 1216 quoting DOB
Dyddiad Geni
www.pass-sc
heme.org.uk
reference Code 342. They will need a free lesson voucher to
show the driving instructor.
Council executive board member for housing and public
protection Cllr Hugh Evans said: “This offer to Validate
cardholders by the AA will help with the cost for young people
starting driving lessons. It is another good reason to apply for
a Validate card if you don’t already have one.”
VALIDATE UK, Main House, Bishop’s Yard, Main Street, CORBRIDGE, Northumberland NE45 5LA
Tel: 01434 634996 Email: info@validateuk.co.uk Website:www.validateuk.co.uk

3. Carmarthenshire Standard Raising the Standard for Proof of Age in Carmarthenshire
Carmarthenshire
Students in UK
National Final
A team from Ysgol Gyfun Emlyn in
Newcastle Emlyn have won this year’s Welsh
Young Consumers of the Year competition
and will now represent Wales at the UK Finals
taking place in Brighton in July.
The winning Ysgol Gyfun Emlyn place thanks to the support of Photo: Welsh Young Consumer of the Year competition winners Ysgol
team was awarded a prize of the competition sponsors - The Gyfun Emlyn pupils Richard Cummings, Max Wilkinson, Ben Phillips
Hoover Foundation, Validate and Sara Chattun with Cllr Hugh Evans, Roger Edmunds and Mike
£250 for their school together
Grace of Trading Standards
with the winners’ trophy. The UK, The Co-operative Group,
runners up, Bedwas High School, Western Power Distribution,
Caerphilly received £100, and all Food Standards Agency (Wales),
participants in the competition Brecon Carreg, Hasbro, W H
were given certificates, gift Smith, , Consumer Direct Wales
vouchers and a bag of goodies. and Iceland.
Teams of students representing
schools from 14 Welsh Local Carmarthenshire County Council
Authorities, tested their wits on a Executive Board member for
wide range of consumer related Housing and Public Protection Cllr
subjects in the Welsh Regional Hugh Evans said: “I’m delighted
Final at the Pavilion Theatre, that the Ysgol Gyfun Emlyn team
Llandrindod Wells. are Welsh Champions and wish
them well in the UK finals.
Fair Trading Officer Heidi Morris
said: “This was an exciting and The whole experience should
challenging competition held provide pupils with invaluable For more information contact:
in a knock out format using an information, which will help
electronic buzzer system. prepare them for their journey Mike Grace
through life as consumers.”
Along the way contestants amass
Carmarthenshire County Council
a great deal of knowledge, which Alan Branch-O`Neill, Chairman Trading Standards
they would not otherwise learn at of the Welsh YCOY Organising Ty Elwyn
school. The competition raises Committee, said: “A team from
student’s awareness of their Wales were UK champions in LLANELLI
rights and responsibilities and 2003 and staff from Trading Carmarthenshire
gives them essential life skills as Standards will be giving all the SA15 3AP
they prepare for the world beyond help they can to both Ysgol Gyfun
Emlyn and Bedwas High School
school.”
in the hope that they can bring
Telephone: 01554 742285
All teams were accommodated the trophy back to Wales again.”
overnight in a local hotel and www.carmarthenshire.gov.uk
enjoyed a pre-competition dinner
and entertainment the night
before the competition took
VALIDATE UK, Main House, Bishop’s Yard, Main Street, CORBRIDGE, Northumberland NE45 5LA
Tel: 01434 634996 Email: info@validateuk.co.uk Website:www.validateuk.co.uk