Get Involved - What are we calling for and why?

What are we calling for and why? Write to your MP Quick Campaign Guide Campaign Letters Health Act 2009 Health Act 2009 Briefs

The Health Act 2009 included two key measures to protect children from the harm from tobacco and to help smokers trying to quit. Smokefree legislation was a tremendous success but it has largely benefitted adults these measures need to be part of a strategy to help prevent children from taking up smoking.

The bad news is that the tobacco industry has said it will go to court to overturn the law and there has been a suggestion that Parliament may be asked again to vote on the ban on point of sale displays:

Point of sale displays
These are, essentially, advertising and have become more prominent since the ban on advertising. They are used to recruit children to smoking by giving them information about brands. By comparison they are rarely used by adult smokers to choose what to smoke. Evidence shows that, in Ireland, the cost to retailers of compliance was around €300 for small shops. For more detailed information, please visit the Point of Sale Display section.

Vending machine sales
These machines are used by 17% of children as a regular source of tobacco while only 1% of all tobacco sales are from vending machines. Children are also rarely challenged by an adult when trying to make a purchase. Tobacco is the only age restricted product available from a vending machine and restrictions will not be enough to prevent children from accessing tobacco from them. Like the 22 European countries which already have we should ban sales of tobacco from them. For more detailed information, please visit the Vending Machines section. Imperial Tobacco, the owner of the UK's biggest cigarette vending machine operator, has threatened to overturn the legislation at Judicial Review.

Smokefree review
Smokefree laws across the UK have been a big success. They have benefited the health of smokers and non-smokers alike. Their popularity has continued to grow, especially among smokers and they now command the support of 80% of adults. When the laws was passed ministers promised a review in 2010. We believe it is time to look again at the law to see what needs to be done to make the law even more effective.

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Get Involved | Plain Packaging | Point of Sale Display | Vending Machines | Other Briefings | Contact: info@smokefreeaction.org.uk

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