Letter to the Editor: Government should butt out and leave smokers alone

We have seen the latest attempt from a Government obsessed with being seen to do something about smoking. The banning of cigarette-vending machines will not only shut a family business in Limerick, costing many jobs, but most crucially it will do nothing to stop people from smoking.

As it stands, those wishing to avail of these vending machines must obtain a token from the bar, so that their age can be verified. Banning them outright is a token gesture with absolutely no demonstrable benefit to reduce the numbers of smokers.