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North teens back bid to ban cigarette machines

Apr 26 2009 by David Old, Sunday Sun

“I’ve tried to give up twice but it’s hard. Fags should be out of sight in shops. It’s too tempting when they’re next to the sweets.”

Lewis added: “I saw an eight-year-old smoking the other day. All the kids are. I can’t run very far as I get out of breath and I’ve got a cough. I really want to give up. I’ve tried but it’s hard because all my friends smoke.”

Ailsa Rutter, director of Fresh – the campaign for a smoke free North East – believes the Bill is vital.

She said: “This is all about protecting children. Research shows 80 per cent of smokers start before they are 18.

“It’s the number one killer in the North East, claiming 5500 lives a year and there are 10,000 11-to-15 year olds smoking in the region.

“Tobacco displays in shops are huge and make smoking look glamorous.

“And vending machines are not needed. Test purchase operations show in 90pc of cases, youngsters can walk into a pub and buy cigarettes unchallenged from machines, yet only one in 20 adult smokers use them.”

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