Diane calls on Coalition to go ahead with cigarette display and vending machine ban
Diane has called on the Coalition to go ahead with Labour’s ban on cigarette vending machines and point of sales after research released today (Friday) proved that it does change attitudes towards smoking and will not leave businesses out of pocket.
Research carried out by University of Nottingham and funded by Cancer Research UK, and the Office of Tobacco Control in Ireland, found that following the ban in
Ireland in July 2009, the recall of tobacco displays was significantly reduced among adults and teenagers, as was the extent to which teenagers thought smoking to be the norm.
The Coalition has suggested that it may overturn the ban, saying in a parliamentary question earlier this year that it would give further consideration to the policy because of the challenges facing “business competition and costs”. Cigarette manufacturers have also threatened to seek a judicial review over the ban.
But the evidence also found that putting cigarettes out of sight saw no significant drop in sales, beyond the current falling trend.
T
he decision to ban cigarette vending machines and point of sales was made in the Tobacco Act, passed in the last few months of the Labour government. It requires supermarkets to get rid of point-of-sale displays by late 2011, while newsagents have until October 2013 to comply.
Diane said:
“It is about time the Coalition put these measures into play instead of wringing their hands over the effect it might have on multi-million pound tobacco companies.
This is a matter of public health, and the government should not be pandering to big businesses.
Today’s research shows that out of sight really is out of mind and keeping cigarettes below the counter and getting rid of cigarette vending machines, really does change attitudes to smoking and does not have huge effects on business.
Smoking is one of the biggest costs to the NHS and it is about time the Coalition took the issue seriously and committed to implementing the ban sooner rather than later.”
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