UK government could scrap tobacco control plans..

July 15, 2010 - UK government could scrap Labour legislation to ban cigarette vending machines from pubs and tobacco displays from retailers. The possibility of reversing the Tobacco Act emerged in a reply to parliamentary question to the Department of Health, which said that given "the challenges facing business competition and costs", it would give further consideration to "the policy on display of tobacco products and sales from tobacco vending machines".

The vending machine ban was proposed by Ian McCartney, a former Labour minister, who said the machines gave young children access to cigarettes. The act also requires cigarettes to be sold "out of sight". Similar schemes have been introduced in Iceland, Ireland, Norway, Thailand and Canada.

Anti-smoking groups are angry about the prospect of a U-turn. Martin Dockrell, director of policy and research at Action on Smoking and Health, said: "The public health community is firmly behind this and the only people who oppose it are the people who profit from making and selling cigarettes. After all their election promises about public health surely the coalition can make a better start than by caving in to the tobacco lobby?" Medical charities, which had lobbied MPs over the issue, were also angered by news of the review. Jean King, director of tobacco control at Cancer Research UK, said: "The evidence is clear and public support is overwhelming – removing tobacco from the point of sale is important if we are to protect children from tobacco."

Campaigners have also been angered by a report from the Institute of Economic Affairs, which is influential in rightwing circles, claiming countries that introduce tobacco display bans could risk "significant economic damage and a deterioration in public health". This claim is "unjustified" according to Casey Quinn, a health economist at the University of Nottingham.

Backround:

July 1, 2010 - Scotland - Imperial Tobacco in legal action to stop ban on cigarette displays and vending machine removal..;

April 26, 2010 - Scotland - retailers can provide input on future to ban the display of tobacco..;

February 11, 2010 - UK - Vending Machines..Imperial Tobacco seeks Judicial Review..;

February 2, 2010 - United Kingdom - halve the number of smokers by end of decade..;

January 29, 2010 - Scotland - parliament votes to ban retail cigarette displays and vending machines.

December 19, 2009 - United Kingdom - govt cabinet business secretary has reservations about new anti-smoking strategy..

November 12, 2009 Across the UK - a ban on cigarette vending machines is set to begin 2011..;

October 17, 2008 - United Kingdom - Packaging people - tobacco display ban - Counterfeit cigarettes could thrive..;

October 16, 2009 - UK - Retailer tells small shops to ignore tobacco industry 'scare tactics'..;

October 16, 2009 - UK - Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) unhappy with tobacco displays ban..;

October 13, 2009 - United Kingdom - House of Commons - ban cigarette displays a step closer/vending machine ban even closer..;

October 12, 2009 - JTI attacks UK government for plan to ban tobacco displays..

October 11, 2009 - United Kingdom - 3rd reading of Public Health Bill including ban on tobacco displays..;

October 8, 2009 - United Kingdom - limiting access to cigarette vending machines not possible..;

September 17, 2009 - Scotland - tobacco firms claim proposed display ban is unnecessary..;

August 22, 2009 - Updated - England - tobacco display ban - the Lords got it right..;

July 7, 2009 - Scotland - tobacco industry will try to stop attempts to curb sales to young people..;

May 20, 2009 - Scotland - cigarette vending machines removal..;

May 16, 2009 - Scottish politicians most have the courage to protect the health of their constituents..;

May 8, 2009 - England, House of Lords votes to ban shop tobacco dislays and restrict vending machine use..;

March 3, 2009 - Northern Ireland - assembly approves ban on display of tobacco items..;

February 26, 2009 Scotland to ban cigarette displays and outlaw cigarette vending machines..;

December 9, 2008 - UK - Strategies to be implemented to prevent underage tobacco use..;

December 8, 2008 - England, Wales to ban tobacco displays in shops..;

Reference: Anti-smoking law may be overturned in government review, Randeep Ramesh, social affairs editor, Guardian.co.uk, 7/14/2010.
(United Kingdom, British, Briton)