Kerry McCarthy MP Backs Ban on Cigarette Vending Machines

Posted on Oct 19, 2009

The Government has announced that it supports a full ban of cigarette machines in pubs. It was passed by the House of Commons yesterday as part of the Health Bill.

According to a report of the British Heart Foundation (BHF), as many as 23,000 11-15 year old regular smokers get their cigarettes from vending machines in England and Wales.

The Government has already taken great steps in reducing the amount of children taking up smoking by raising the legal age to purchase cigarettes to 18. Unfortunately, this doesn’t stop them being able to buy them from vending machines.

In 2008, 12 per cent of children who were regular smokers usually bought their cigarettes from vending machines. Only five per cent of adult smokers use vending machines and then only on an occasional basis.

Speaking about her support for the ban, Kerry said:

“We don’t sell alcohol, fireworks or other dangerous products in vending machines. Why should it be any different for cigarettes? They are disproportionately used by children and this ban would protect them from the easy access to a fatal habit that a vending machine provides.”

The bill now has to be passed by the House of Lords before the ban can be enforced.