cigarettes buying

[lprenrut]

I am a 17 year old and legally allowed to smoke but I want to buy a packet of cigarettes I ask my 18 year old friend to buy them for me is my friend breaking the law?

[bednobs]

yes. I dont think there is a "legal age" for smoking.

[squarebear]

Of course there is a legal age for smoking. It's 16 I believe.

[pink-kittens]

Bednobs is right, there is no legal age for smoking

It is illegal to sell them to under 18's now

[pink-kittens]

And to answer the OP, it wouldn't be you breaking the law but the shop owner if s/he knew that your friend was buying them for someone under the age of 18

[squarebear]

No legal age for smoking? Are you sure?
So if I saw an 8 year old child in the street smoking a cigarette, that would be perfectly legal?

[bednobs]

the law relates to buying tobacco, not smoking it,

[Illyria54]

The legal age to smoke is definitely 16 and has been for quite some time, some MP's want that age to be increased to 21. As regards the buying of them Iprenut, don't do it, I smoked 25 a day for about 20 years, I gave up 5 years ago and now wondered why on earth I started.

[Postdog]

There is no legal age to smoke at all - it's just tied in to the legal age to BUY tobbacco, and the assumption that we are all law abiding citizens.

[pink-kittens]

Yes squarebear, perfectly legal.

[lprenrut]

Thanks for all your answers but I do know that you are allowed to legally smoke from the age of 16 years old but the main question was if an 18 year old buys a packet of cigarettes for their 17 year old friend would that be breaking the law. Smokers from the age of 16 - 17 must have a way of getting cigarettes

[pink-kittens]

You can legally smoke at what ever age you like, there is no legal age limit on smoking which you can see if you read the replies here

You only need to look for youself

Your actual Q was answered by myself at post number 4

[theonlyone]

You can't sell tobacco products to under 18's ..don't know if your friend is breaking the law ...why does anyone wants to smoke !!!

[Illyria54]

Have just read this as regards to the legal age to smoke, and it is 16.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/talking_point/36308 26.stm

[Tichfield]

If you read that BBC page, not just the "headline" then you will see that it is talking about the age at which people can legally BUY tobacco - it is not talking about a minimum age for SMOKING it.

[Ethel]

The BBC has not cited the relevant law and has simplified the article somewhat.

It is illegal for retailers to sell tobacco to children and they will be prosecuted.

It is not illegal for children to smoke at any age - except within the smoking laws applicable to smokers of all ages.