煙草在線據(jù)雜貨商新聞報(bào)道編譯　　日本煙草國際公司（JTI）推出了一項(xiàng)試驗(yàn)計(jì)劃，以打擊向未成年人售煙，它聲稱這是煙草供應(yīng)商采取的第一步行動(dòng)。

　　該公司在一項(xiàng)活動(dòng)中投入了40萬英鎊，為英國西北部獨(dú)立的零售商和加盟商標(biāo)店提供更多的培訓(xùn)和支持。

　　日本煙草國際公司將向該地區(qū)的商店發(fā)送信息包，并且已經(jīng)在該地區(qū)一半以上的規(guī)模較小的零售店開始測試程序，以識別那些不經(jīng)常檢查年輕人身份的店主，并提供“干預(yù)訓(xùn)練”。測試程序?qū)⑿枰赡切┛雌饋砟贻p的19歲及以上的年青人進(jìn)店，來看看他們?nèi)ベI煙時(shí)是否會(huì)被店主詢問。

　　此舉是在西北部削減了貿(mào)易標(biāo)準(zhǔn)的預(yù)算后推出的，在對商店是否冒險(xiǎn)向兒童出售卷煙的測試中，這類情況減少了34%。

　　目前，該地區(qū)擁有最高的未成年人吸煙率之一，14-17歲的青少年中有15%被劃分為經(jīng)常吸煙者[西北貿(mào)易標(biāo)準(zhǔn)2013]。

　　該計(jì)劃將持續(xù)到明年4月，但如果成功的話，日煙國際公司將計(jì)劃與其他煙草公司在全國范圍內(nèi)共同行動(dòng)，同時(shí)游說政府打擊非法貿(mào)易并且制訂立法，以堵上“代購”的漏洞。

　　“該地區(qū)政府的第一步是監(jiān)管不是教育。我們的觀點(diǎn)是，還有另一種方法，”日本煙草公司負(fù)責(zé)溝通的負(fù)責(zé)人杰里米·布萊克（Jeremy Blackburn）說：“我們與健康組織是站在一起的，我們都有一個(gè)目標(biāo)，就是減少購買年青人的購煙渠道。”

　　此舉受到ACS公共事務(wù)總監(jiān)謝恩·布倫南的歡迎，他說，這為提高標(biāo)準(zhǔn)樹立了很好的榜樣。“阻止所有限制年齡的產(chǎn)品，不僅僅是煙草的銷售，對零售商來說，每時(shí)每刻都是考驗(yàn)。對于任何錯(cuò)誤或疏漏，他們都面臨著嚴(yán)厲的懲罰，低標(biāo)準(zhǔn)、不完善的培訓(xùn)或程序都不得有任何借口。”

JTI Takes up Fight against Underage Tobacco Sales

　　Japan Tobacco International (JTI) has launched a pilot scheme to combat underage sales, which it claims is the first to be undertaken by a tobacco supplier.

　　The company has invested ￡400,000 in an initiative to provide greater training and support for independent retailers and symbol groups in the North West.

　　JTI is sending information packs to stores in the area and has embarked on a testing process on more than half the smaller retailers in the area, to identify those that do not routinely challenge young shoppers for ID, and to offer 'intervention training'. The testing process will involve sending youthful-looking young people aged 19 or above into stores to see if they are challenged by shopkeepers when they go to buy cigarettes.

　　The move follows budgets cuts to Trading Standards in the North West, which have seen a 34% decline in testing of stores to identify those at risk of selling cigarettes to children.

　　Currently, the region has one of the highest instances of regular underage smoking, with 15% of 14-17-year-olds classed as regular smokers [Trading Standards North West 2013].

　　The scheme will run until April, but if it is successful, JTI will look to roll out a nationwide initiative in partnership with other tobacco companies, while lobbying the government to clamp down on illicit trade and introduce legislation to close the loopholes on 'proxy purchasing'.

　　"The first step of government in this area is regulation not education. Our view is that there is another way," said JTI's head of communications Jeremy Blackburn. "We are on the same side as the health groups and all have a goal to reduce access."

　　The move has been welcomed by ACS' public affairs director Shane Brennan, who said it set a great example to raise standards. "Preventing sales of all age-restricted products, not just tobacco, is a 24/7 challenge for retailers. They face tough penalties for any mistakes or oversights and there is no excuse for poor standards, training or procedures." Enditem