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Health campaigners welcome House of Lords votes

May 10 2009 by Coreena Ford, Sunday Sun

Richard Ferry, of the North East Trading Standards Association, which has campaigned for cigarette vending machines to be banned, said: “Vending machines are a significant source for under age cigarette sales and this move will go a long way to reduce supply of a dangerous product to minors.

“We’d have liked to see a ban on these machines rather than restrictions. So far the code of practice in asking staff to supervise these machines does not seem to be working.

“Children also show ingenuity getting around other age restricted products and this is our fear over vending machines.

“It is wrong that in many places, children can buy cigarettes as easily as they can buy a can of coke, but we now need to ensure that we carefully monitor how these new restrictions will work.”

The vote was not welcomed by shopkeepers and the British Retail Consortium (BRC), however, who say tobacco products account for as much as 40 per cent of their business.

BRC director general Stephen Robertson has also warned that shop refits would cost at least £2000 per store.

The Bill will now move from the Lords to the House of Commons to allow MPs to have their say.

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