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'Devious' tobacco bosses slammed

Aug 16 2009 by Paul Loraine, Sunday Sun

One man in the bar, who did not want to be named, said: “It surprised me how blatant it was at a time when they are trying to get rid of cigarette machines in bars. They flashed their eyes and gave their sales pitch.

“The brightness of the lights on their trays was incredible - it was like a 1000 watt bulb - you couldn’t miss them when they walked in.

“It seems tobacco companies are finding clever and devious ways to get around restrictions placed on them.”

The Centurion pub declined to comment on the matter.

Earlier this year, the Department of Health announced it was considering a number of controls on smoking including a ban on branding and logos on cigarette packets.

A spokesman for Japan Tobacco International, the parent company for Benson and Hedges, said: “It’s not illegal to sell tobacco products. You have to be over 18 to buy tobacco and that’s why they were visiting an over-18 venue.

“All of our staff are fully trained on challenging for ID - we have a policy of no ID, no sale.”

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