Cigarette vending machine ban will protect children

31 January 2012

A vital measure which will help to protect children from a lifetime of addiction will be introduced in Wales from 1st February 2012 with a ban on the sale of cigarettes from vending machines.

ASH Wales Chief Executive Elen de Lacy commented:

"We are delighted that the ban is being introduced in Wales. One in 5 young smokers tells us they can purchase cigarettes from unsupervised vending machines. These regulations will protect children from having easy and illegal access to cigarettes.

It's an important public health measure to safeguard future generations and an integral part of a comprehensive strategy to tackle the harm that tobacco causes to Welsh communities. We now need the Welsh Government to press ahead with the ban on behind the counter displays of tobacco." 

Claudia McVie, Chief Executive of Tenovus, said:

"Smoking is the main known cause of cancer. The reduction in the availability of cigarettes to the general public will clearly help reduce the harm smoking does. The majority of patients we see on a day to day basis are lung cancer patients so we are only too aware of this terrible disease."

To read the full press release please visit the Ash Wales Website.