TOGETHER WE COULD END SOLVENT ABUSE.

Robert Dyas Ironmongers is the latest store to splash one of our exclusive Guardian Say No To Solvent Abuse campaign posters on its shop front.

More and more Croydon shopkeepers are following the lead and the colourful posters are springing up all over the borough.

Sarah Nash, assistant manager at the store in North End, Central Croydon, said the company was delighted to be doing its bit in helping raise awareness of the problem of solvent abuse in Croydon.

She explained: "As a company we promote awareness of the dangers of solvent abuse and our staff are regularly told about being aware of selling solvents to youngsters. And anything that we can do to help further has got to be a good thing.

She added: "Although we don't really get groups of youngsters hanging around and trying to buy solvents, we do sell a lot of products that could be used for abuse and by putting a poster in the shop window we will make them think twice before they come in.

"Solvent Abuse is obviously a problem and whatever steps we can take to help are worthwhile."

Statistics show that one in 12 of the borough's teenaged girls is sniffing solvents.

Since 1989 instances of solvent abuse have risen by a staggering 500 per cent and the consequences can be fatal. To join our campaign contact The Solvent Abuse Campaign, Guardian House, Sandiford Road, Sutton, Surrey SM3 9RN or call 0181 770 2247. The posters bear the logos Say No To Solvent Abuse or Solvent Abuse Kills.

WHAT THE LAW SAYS.

The relevant law is the Intoxicating Substances Supply Act, 1985.

It is an offence for a person to supply or offer to supply a substance other than a controlled drug:

a. to a person under the age of 18 whom he knows or has reasonable cause to believe, to be under that age; or'

b. to a person:

(i) who is acting on behalf of a person under that age; and

(ii) whom he knows, or has reasonable cause to believe, to be so acting,

if he knows or has reasonable cause to believe that the substance is, or its fumes are, likely to be inhaled by the person under the age of 18 for the purpose of causing intoxication.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000.Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.