Scotland to ban cigarette machines

Thursday, 26 February 2009 12:00 AM

By politics.co.uk staff

Scotland has laid out plans to ban cigarette displays in shops and the use of cigarette machines in a move announced today by Holyrood.

The Scottish parliament hopes to discourage young people from taking up smoking by removing visual temptations.

However, some have spoken out against the plans saying they will increase costs to shopkeepers and simply make smoking seem more illicit and alluring.

"The health risks associated with smoking are both enormous and well documented," said public health minister Shona Robison.

"But stopping smoking is hard and the vast majority of smokers I've spoken to wish that they'd never started.

"So that's why the measures in this bill are aimed at stopping children starting to smoke in the first place - by making it less accessible and less attractive to them."

The Scottish Grocers' Federation (SGF) said it could cost between £5,000 and £10,000 for each shop to comply with the new regulations.

"The Scottish government's argument that tobacco displays encourage young people to smoke is simplistic and immature," said SGF chief executive John Drummond.

"Scottish Grocers' Federation is concerned a ban is more likely to increase young people's fascination in tobacco and could encourage smokers, who do not see tobacco on display in legitimate stores, to buy from rogue traders who are prepared to sell illicit products."

Ms Robison said point-of-sale marketing was an inappropriate and powerful marketing tool.

"There is no place in a modern Scotland for cigarette vending machines - we wouldn't allow any other dangerous product to be sold in this way," she said.

"Too many people have already watched loved ones suffer and die as a result of smoking-related illnesses.

"I'm determined that we must do all we can to protect future generations."

The moves come as part of the wider range of schemes which include allowing trading standards to fine retailers abusing the rules and possibly even closing persistent offenders.

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• health
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• public health
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• tobacco advertising