MPs Approve Cigarette Vending Ban

The U.K. may ban cigarette vending machines and prevent stores from displaying tobacco products.LONDON, ENGLAND – A new proposal that is part of England’s Health Bill would ban cigarette vending machines and prevent stores from displaying tobacco products, Reuters reports.
Former Labor minister Ian McCartney, who proposed the vending machine ban, said that its intent is to make it more difficult for minors to buy cigarettes.
"We don't allow alcohol, fireworks, knives or other age-restricted products to be sold from vending machines," McCartney said on his Web site. "These are only sold where there is a face-to-face transaction over the counter. We need to tackle this anomaly which allows children to get hold of cigarettes."
The House of Commons approved the vending machine amendment earlier this week. It now moves to the House of Lords for consideration. If approved there, it would become law in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Opponents of the proposed non-display bill argued that it would harm merchants while doing little to improve the public’s health. They said that there is scant evidence from other countries that banning cigarette displays reduces smoking rates.
However, Health Secretary Andy Burnham said that the government would not try to block its passage in the House of Lords.