Jump to full article: CBC News (ca), 2009-09-16
Intro: Teenagers in the nation's capital continue to smoke a significant number of contraband cigarettes, a new study suggests.
The study, commissioned by the National Coalition Against Contraband Tobacco, found that 23 per cent of cigarette butts collected from around 11 high schools in Ottawa were illegal cigarettes.
"Kids, who shouldn't be smoking at all, are having no trouble getting their hands on illegal cigarettes that cost pennies apiece," Gary Grant, spokesman for the group and retired Toronto police officer, said in Ottawa.
"For the third year running, this study shows that youth are a primary target of the thugs at the end of the contraband tobacco distribution chain. Governments need to take meaningful action now by banning youth possession of tobacco," he added.
"If it's illegal for someone under 19 to have a beer, the same or stricter rules should apply for cigarettes. It's just common sense."
Founded by the Canadian Convenience Stores Association, the coalition is trying to stop the sale of illegal cigarettes in Canada. It says the percentage of illegal cigarette butts collected from Ottawa high schools this year is the same as last year when it conducted a similar study.
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