Ban cigarette machines 'to protect children'

Lord Walton of Detchant writes for ePolitix.com about his question on the prohibition of retail display and vending machines for tobacco products. Skip related content

When the Health Bill was debated in the House of Lords, the clause proposing a ban on the retail display of tobacco products received widespread support, in view of evidence from other countries indicating that such a ban would be likely to help in preventing children from beginning to smoke.

This clause was also accepted by the Commons. In the debate in the House of Lords I presented evidence which showed that a number of trading standards officers in the North East had recruited volunteer teenagers under 16 years of age and had taken them to various establishments where cigarette vending machines were available; in more than 60 per cent of cases, children had no difficulty in obtaining cigarettes from such machines. In one club, a child was helped to obtain change to complete the purchase.

I therefore proposed an amendment to ban such machines, but this was not supported by government, which regarded it as 'a step too far'. However, a similar amendment was subsequently accepted in the Commons and will be debated in the Lords on 9 November. If it is passed and the bill receives Royal Assent, then the relevant regulations must be subject to a three-month consultation period, and must also be reported to Europe.

This action must be taken soon if these important regulations, vital in the protection of the health of children, are to come into force before a spring general election.