BELFAST, Northern Ireland – The Northern Ireland Assembly has approved a bill that would create a registry of retailers that sell tobacco, with the aim of lowering such sales to children, the Belfast Telegram reports. The Tobacco Retailers Bill also has tough measures for adults who buy tobacco for minors.

The law’s key point is to ensure shopkeepers abide by the minimum age policy for tobacco sales by enacting harsher penalties for violations. “This bill will help reduce the number of young people taking up smoking and will ultimately help to save lives in Northern Ireland,” said Health Minister Edwin Poots. He added that many smokers started in their youth.

Recent studies have found that 8% of kids between the ages of 11 and 16 use tobacco. “Given the widespread damage caused by smoking, it is incumbent on us, as legislators, to ensure that we do everything in our power to prevent people becoming addicted to this lethal habit,” said Poots.

The senior Democratic Unionist commented that the new law would give law enforcement an effective tool to curb underage tobacco sales. “I have no doubt that the vast majority of retailers are conscientious and law abiding. However, the evidence shows that shops continue to be the main source of tobacco for under-18s,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Association of Convenience Stores strongly opposes the U.K. government’s proposal for plain packaging of tobacco products in England, Northern Ireland, Wales and Scotland.