Government stops kids smoking themselves to death According to the Beeb the government has raised the age that people can start to buy cigarettes from 16 to 18 effective from the autumn. About time too. When I was that age we never had any money for cigs.

The problem with the age at 16, apart from children taking up a very expensive way of killing themselves, is that there will always be a doubt over a kids age so you end up with people even younger getting access to the cancer sticks.

Minister of State for public health Caroline Flint is picutured bottom right counting how many cigs the little girl on the left has had in that very morning.  ¶ 3:05 pm