UK - Sinclair Collis granted leave to appeal High Court's vending machines decision..

Cigarette Vending Machine - Sinclair Collis..

February 15, 2011 - Machine provider Sinclair Collis, part of Imperial Tobacco, has been granted leave to appeal the High Court's decision to reject its judicial review of the ban. United Kingdom - High Court upheld govt's plan to ban cigarette vending machines starting October 1, 2011..

A hearing at the Court of Appeal is scheduled for 7 or 8 March and due to last one and a half days.

Imperial Tobacco senior UK corporate and legal affairs manager Colin Wragg said: “We are delighted that we have managed to get the appeal heard promptly and we will communicate further developments as they occur.”

The cigarette vending machines ban is due to go live on 1 October England and Wales, with bans in Scotland and Northern Ireland also expected this year. (January 26, 2011 - Scotland - tobacco display ban delayed for large stores..)

Sinclair Collis' appeal only relates to England, although if successful, the company will ask for the judgment to be applied to Wales and Northern Ireland as well. In Scotland — where different legislation is being used to ban machines — the Court of Sessions heard a challenge by Sinclair Collis in November and a decision is pending. (September 30, 2010 - Scotland - Imperial Tobacco loses attempt to overturn ban on cigarette displays and removal of vending machines..)

Meanwhile, a spokeswoman for the Department of Health said anecdotal evidence from trading standards has found pubs are already removing their machines ahead of any ban. “Many pubs have got rid of them already because trading standards have told them about the ban,” she said. “If they have any questions they should talk to their trading standards.” BII chief executive Neil Robertson said he'd also noticed this trend. “I think people will gradually take them out," Robertson said.

Under current plans, English pubs that break the ban risk fines of up to £2,500 (4,033.75 USD).

Reference: New hope for cig vending machines by John Harrington, MorningAdvertiser.co.uk, 2/14/2011.

Background: (previous news briefs)
December 2, 2010 - United Kingdom - High Court upheld govt's plan to ban cigarette vending machines starting October 1, 2011..
October 8, 2010 - Northern Ireland - July 1, 2011 date of start of cigarette display ban..;
September 30, 2010 - Scotland - Imperial Tobacco loses attempt to overturn ban on cigarette displays and removal of vending machines..;
September 25, 2010 - United Kingdom - Cigarette point-of-sale displays ban must go ahead, say leading doctors..;
August 17, 2010 - England - teenage smoking rates dropped since legal age to buy cigarettes raised to 18..;
July 15, 2010 - UK government could scrap tobacco control plans..;
July 1, 2010 - Scotland - Imperial Tobacco in legal action to stop ban on cigarette displays and vending machine removal..;
April 17, 2010 - Wales set to ban the display of tobacco products..;
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..;
November 12, 2009 - Across the UK - a ban on cigarette vending machines is set to begin 2011..
October 27, 2009 - United Kingdom - Packaging people - tobacco display ban - Counterfeit cigarettes could thrive..;
October 13, 2010 - United Kingdom - House of Commons - ban cigarette displays a step closer/vending machine ban even closer..;
October 11, 2010 - United Kingdom - 3rd reading of Public Health Bill including ban on tobacco displays..;
October 8, 2010 - United Kingdom - limiting access to cigarette vending machines not possible..;
September 17, 2010 - UK - Richard Branson makes high-profile plea for tobacco control measures to protect children..;
September 17, 2009 - Scotland - tobacco firms claim proposed display ban is unnecessary..;
July 6, 2009 - United Kingdom survey results adults back proposals to protect children from tobacco..;
May 20, 2009 - Scotland - cigarette vending machines removal..;
February 26, 2009 - Scotland to ban cigarette displays and outlaw cigarette vending machines..;
December 11, 2008 - England, Wales to ban tobacco displays in shops..;
December 9, 2010 - UK - Strategies to be implemented to prevent underage tobacco use..;
September 1, 2008 - Northern Ireland - Must Be 18 to Buy Cigarettes..;
August 18, 2010 - Wales - still easy for youngsters to buy cigarettes...
(United Kingdom, Britain)