In the latest move the government is planning to outlaw cigarettes vending machines and make cigarettes no longer available over the counter, the machines mean there is no control over the age of the person who is buying the cigarettes.

Recently the age for buying cigarettes was raised by the government to 18, and health authorities say more anti-smoking measures can be expected including the banning of packets of ten cigarettes.

It is believed that the small packs of ten encourage youngsters to start smoking.

Vending machines have already been banned in many European countries with excellent results; last year Britain along with several other countries banned smoking in enclosed public places and the government is now intent on trying to stop people starting to smoke in their teenage years.

Experts say 200,000 children under 16 years of age start smoking each year in Britain and the risk of premature death for them was three times higher than for people who start in their 20s.

Authorities in Scotland have forced stores to remove displays of cigarettes, an action that has been widely applauded.

Anti-smoking organisations, which say two-thirds of smokers start smoking before they reach 18, have welcomed the focus on protecting children and the comprehensive new strategy to drive down smoking, hot on the heels of the successful implementation of smoke-free legislation.

[26 May 2008 09:04]

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