MP: Ban cigarette vending machines immediately

A Labour MP has called for a complete ban on cigarette vending machines to be enacted as soon as possible.
Chris Ruane has tabled an Early Day Motion (EDM) — a petition for MPs — calling for "urgent" action on cigarette vending machines.

He said: "The British Heart Foundation estimates that over 46,000 11 to 15 year old regular smokers bought cigarettes through vending machines in England and Wales in 2006 and (this house) calls for legislation to be included in the 2008 Queen's Speech to bring an immediate end to the sale of tobacco products from vending machines."

The Government is currently considering its options following a consultation on a vending machine ban.
A recent British Institute of Inn Keepers' (BII) poll of members showed that a total of 42% said they believed a ban on vending machines would be bad for trade.

“We do not believe that vending in pubs is in any way a significant source of cigarettes for underage smokers, and as with the smoking ban, the effect will be to drive customers away,” said BII chief executive John McNamara at the time. “To use a sledgehammer again is, frankly, nuts.”

Vending machines account for just 1% of all tobacco sales.

Source: The Morning Advertiser, 14 November 2008
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