Britain is raising the legal age to purchase tobacco from 16 to 18 years, the government announced Monday.

The new age limit is aimed at helping retailers to spot underage smokers, and making it more difficult for young people to begin smoking, the government said.

"Buying cigarettes has been too easy for under-16s, and this is partly due to retailers' selling tobacco to those under the legal age," public health minister Caroline Flint said. "The law change demonstrates our determination to stop this and to reduce the number of teenagers who smoke."

The law will come into effect in October in England and Wales, the government said. The U.S., Canada, Ireland and New Zealand have similar laws.