‘No plan’ to follow Britain’s cigarette vending ban
Britain this week passed a Health Bill which included a ban on vending machines and putting tobacco out of sight in shops.
The far-reaching proposals are expected not only to mirror those in the south but to go a step further by removing any signs of tobacco in licensed premises.
A spokesman for Health Minister Mary Harney said the use of machines was now regulated. A total ban was unlikely here.
“There is fairly robust legislation here but there are no plans to review the policy [for tobacco].”
Current rules in Ireland mean pubs can only allow access to cigarette vending machines with tokens and once they are in sight of staff, to prevent minors purchasing tobacco.
Labour in Britain say machines give youngsters access to tobacco and that its proposals would “change history”. The British Heart Foundation said the move was a “victory” for campaigners on the issue.
Anti-smoking lobbying groups here remained silent on the move yesterday. The Office of Tobacco Control also said it could not comment. A ban on in-store promotions of tobacco and cigarettes was introduced here in June. The same measure is expected to be implemented by the North who will restrict any signs of tobacco in stores under the draft legislation.
It is understood proposals to ban cigarette vending machines were looked at when Ireland’s smoking ban was first proposed, however such a measure was thought too extreme under then Health Minister Micheál Martin.
Retailers in the North this week have already began complaining about the ban in stores.
Recession-hit small shopkeepers there say they face bills of up to £15,000 (€16,000) next year to implement the British government’s planned tobacco display ban.
