ePolitix.com Stakeholders comment on the increase in the legal minimum age at which tobacco can be bought in Britain, which has gone up from 16 to 18.

The government hopes the move will both reduce the number of young people who smoke - around nine per cent of 11 to 15-year-olds - and make it easier for shopkeepers to identify underage smokers.

The move has, however, proved controversial with some groups, who have criticised the campaign to raise awareness of the change in law.

Stakeholder response: Federation of Small Businesses (FSB)

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A spokesman said: "We are very disappointed with the level of publicity this issue has been given.

"When the ban on smoking in enclosed public places was introduced in the summer, there was a huge awareness-raising campaign.

"This meant that when the ban came in, everybody knew about it and business owners faced minimal problems in complying.

"The fact that very few 16 and 17-year-olds will have heard that it is now illegal for them to buy tobacco could lead to disputes and even violence against tobacco retailers ".