Teenage girl begged me for a ciggie...what is the age for legal smoking?

[Janeymoo50]

Last night on the way to the train station, I stopped off for a smoke (I know, not a popular subject for many, I fully accept that). I was in the park, on a bench, nobody anywhere near me (in case anyone is wondering)- teenage girl in school uniform approaches me mid exhale -

"Excuse me, can you give me a cig please"
"Sorry, I can't, you're underage, it's against the law"
"Actually I am 15 and I can legally smoke, please can I have one"
"Sorry, I can't I'm afraid"

She flounced off muttering under her breath - only to be seen five mins later asking some bloke who was walking down the street puffing.

Can teenagers legally smoke at 15? Surely not when they cannot buy them?

Just to confirm the reasons I never gave her one, didn't want to*, her mum would smell it, and it just felt not the thing to do.

I know I should give up, I am trying (down from 10 to less than 6 a day since August so getting there).

• Only had a packet of 10 and they have to last a while yet

Good for you!

It's not illegal to smoke or buy cigarettes at any age. It is illegal to sell cigarettes to under 18s.

Nope - legal age to smoke is 16 and they can't buy them until they are 18.
I wouldn't have given her a ciggie either.

Well I never knew that gin
Every day is a school day on MN

Urgh I actually did this once when I was about 15. The woman gave me one though although she tutted and shook her head I'm so embarrassed to think I asked!

Good on you for not giving her one. I'm not sure on whether it is legal for you to give her one or for her to smoke at 15 because I thought the law was based around actually buying cigarettes? But anyway, she doesn't need a stranger enabling her habit.

I smoke too btw, but it would be wrong to aid a child in such an awful habit.

Would it really make sense for smokers under the age of 16 to be criminalised? ???

Now the minimum age is 18 in order to buy cigarettes, rolling tobacco, cigarette papers and other smoking products. Also, if you are under 16 and a police officer catches you smoking in a public place, be aware that they have a duty to confiscate your cigarettes.

Hellsbells, if you didnt know the answer why did you answer the op?

Isn't it illegal to sell to under-18's, but not illegal for them to smoke? Not that I would ever give a 15 year old a cigarette, but I think that's where the law stands on it.

Gosh this takes me back - 55 year ago I used to buy a single Woodbine cigarette from the local shop at 15 on the way to school

Op you did the right thing.
Have you thought about trying a vaping device? Stopped smoking 2 years ago and would recommend to anyone, cheap, no smell, safer.

I think it's something like - illegal to sell to under 18s but legal to smoke from 16

Oh, and illegal to smoke in a vehicle with an under 18 year old in it from tomorrow onwards in England and Wales

I once gave a really young person a cigarette, they were around 12. I think even they were shocked that I gave them one! My DH just looked at me like and then I did a double take and realised what I'd done. I just did it automatically without really thinking or looking.

I still feel shit about it.