tobacco displays to be banned in england

[Amby 490]

The open display of tobacco in shops is to be banned in England, the government is expected to announce later.

But it is understood plans for an outright ban on tobacco vending machines and branding on cigarette packets have been scrapped.

Ministers hope the display ban, which Scotland introduced in May, will reduce smoking. Northern Ireland and Wales are yet to decide if they will follow suit.

Critics say the moves do not go far enough to stop young people smoking.

A government consultation on how to deter young people from smoking launched six months ago found the "overwhelming majority" of 100,000 responses backed the display ban. The BBC's health correspondent Jane Dreaper said Health Secretary Alan Johnson had also been impressed with evidence from other countries, suggesting the move would have an impact on smoking rates.

Ministers say where other countries - such as Iceland and Thailand - have removed displays, smoking prevalence among young people has fallen by up to 10%.

Deborah Arnott, director of the anti-smoking group ASH, backed the ban and said the prohibition of the display of tobacco products at point of sale would be "a proportionate response to the death and disease caused by tobacco".

The government itself had estimated this would lead to up to 2,800 fewer young people starting to smoke each year, saving many thousands of lives in the longer term, she added.

Restricting access

But the British Heart Foundation says a total ban on vending machines is the only way to prevent children accessing cigarettes.

Vending machines are the source of cigarettes for nearly one in five young smokers aged 11 to 15 - some 46,000 children.

A British Heart Foundation spokeswoman said: "When the government announces further steps on tobacco control we expect nothing less than a robust tobacco control plan which includes a total ban on cigarette vending machines.

"We are concerned about the large number of children being able to access cigarettes without a face to face transaction."

There are a number of ways in which access to tobacco from vending machines can be limited, including making customers obtain an ID coin from a member of staff in order to operate the machine, as used in the Republic of Ireland.

The government had also considered banning all promotional material from tobacco packaging.

But ministers say until there is enough evidence such a move would actually stop young people taking up smoking it will not introduce a ban. The Tobacco Manufacturers' Association opposes the cigarette display ban and says it could have serious unintended consequences, such as driving the sale of illicit tobacco.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/7771210.stm

[Ban Hammer 13,349]

[Carlawarla 1]

In Canada, tobacco companies are not allowed to advertise on TV, or other mass media. They cannot sponsor sporting events or art endeavours, which really sucks as some events had to stop because they couldn't find other corporate sponsors. Cigarettes are "hidden", in locked cabinets, behind drapes, or underneath counters. If you entered a store, you would have no idea if they even carried cigarettes.

I think the concept was out-of-sight, out-of-mind. I would suggest that this part of the "advertising" works. If you're a smoker, you know where ot get your cigarettes. If you don't smoke, you may not ask for cigarettes because you may be too embarrassed to ask if they carry them, or what kinds. If you're an ex-smoker like me, it would be nice not to have it in my face when I go to the register.

[Chica Yeyé 41]

It does not work. Believe me.

Next: prohibition. Remember how that one worked out???

[Amby 490]

moonshine is lovely