Consumerism: Cynical ads aid childhood vices

Half-hearted enforcement and "cynical" advertising are hindering efforts to keep drink, tobacco and solvents out of children's hands, trading standards officials warned yesterday.

The Institute of Trading Standards Administration said the enforcement system sales of some products were regulated primarily by trading standards, such as fireworks and tobacco, some by police such as alcopops, and some by no specific body including lottery tickets, glue, crossbows and knives.

Paul Galland, chairman of the Institute of Trading Standards Administration, said the situation was made worse by "a cynical misuse of marketing and advertising power" by some industries.