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03/10/2011
Tobacco Vending Has Last Cough
The sale of tobacco from vending machines is now prohibited across England.
The ban has been introduced to prevent under-age sales to children and to support adults who are trying to quit.
Nearly all of adult smokers started smoking before they turned 18 and every year over 300,000 children try smoking for the first time. Of the children who regularly smoke, 11% buy their cigarettes from vending machines.
Cigarette vending machines are often unsupervised, making it easy for children to buy cigarettes from them. It is estimated that 35 million cigarettes are sold illegally through vending machines to children every year.
Health Secretary Andrew Lansley said: "Smoking is one of the biggest and most stubborn challenges in public health. Over eight million people in England still smoke and it causes more than 80,000 deaths each year.
"Cigarette vending machines are often unsupervised, making it easy for children to purchase cigarettes from them.
"The ban on cigarette sales from vending machines will protect children by making cigarettes less accessible to them - we want to do everything we can to encourage young people not to start smoking in the first place," he said.
Chief Medical Officer Professor Dame Sally Davies said: "More that 300,000 children under 16 try smoking each year, and nearly all smokers start smoking regularly before they turn 18.
"We know that 11% of 11 to 15 year-olds who regularly smoke say that they buy cigarettes from vending machines.
"We want to stop young people starting smoking – and we believe this will reduce the numbers of new smokers and support people who are trying to quit.
"Seven out of ten current smokers want to give up smoking, and anyone considering giving up smoking should get in touch with their local NHS stop Smoking Service for free help, advice and support."
Jo Butcher, the National Children's Bureau's Programme Director of Health and Wellbeing, said: "A person's lifetime smoking or non-smoking behaviour is heavily influenced by their decisions in adolescence. Children and young people tell us that external influences make it even more difficult for them to choose healthier lifestyles. It's essential that we create environments that improve health and tobacco legislation is an important part of public health protection and promotion."
(BMcC/GK)
The ban has been introduced to prevent under-age sales to children and to support adults who are trying to quit.
Nearly all of adult smokers started smoking before they turned 18 and every year over 300,000 children try smoking for the first time. Of the children who regularly smoke, 11% buy their cigarettes from vending machines.
Cigarette vending machines are often unsupervised, making it easy for children to buy cigarettes from them. It is estimated that 35 million cigarettes are sold illegally through vending machines to children every year.
Health Secretary Andrew Lansley said: "Smoking is one of the biggest and most stubborn challenges in public health. Over eight million people in England still smoke and it causes more than 80,000 deaths each year.
"Cigarette vending machines are often unsupervised, making it easy for children to purchase cigarettes from them.
"The ban on cigarette sales from vending machines will protect children by making cigarettes less accessible to them - we want to do everything we can to encourage young people not to start smoking in the first place," he said.
Chief Medical Officer Professor Dame Sally Davies said: "More that 300,000 children under 16 try smoking each year, and nearly all smokers start smoking regularly before they turn 18.
"We know that 11% of 11 to 15 year-olds who regularly smoke say that they buy cigarettes from vending machines.
"We want to stop young people starting smoking – and we believe this will reduce the numbers of new smokers and support people who are trying to quit.
"Seven out of ten current smokers want to give up smoking, and anyone considering giving up smoking should get in touch with their local NHS stop Smoking Service for free help, advice and support."
Jo Butcher, the National Children's Bureau's Programme Director of Health and Wellbeing, said: "A person's lifetime smoking or non-smoking behaviour is heavily influenced by their decisions in adolescence. Children and young people tell us that external influences make it even more difficult for them to choose healthier lifestyles. It's essential that we create environments that improve health and tobacco legislation is an important part of public health protection and promotion."
(BMcC/GK)
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