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UK cigarettes to be sold under the counter

by Dave Keating | December 9, 2008 at 12:35 am

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The UK government has passed unprecedented legislation to force shopkeepers to keep cigarettes under the counter rather than display them. New restrictions on cigarette vending machines are also to go into force. The new measures are intended to precent children from taking up smoking. The legal age to smoke tobacco products in the UK was raised from 16 to 18 last year.

Tobacco products will be barred from display in shops despite fears it could hit small stores during the economic downturn.

The new restrictions come after an extensive consultation on measures to reduce the number of children who take up smoking and helping those already addicted to quit.

But ministers will not go as far as recommending all cigarette packaging be plain with only the brand name and health warnings printed on them.

Sales from vending machines will also be restricted as research has shown children can buy cigarettes from them easily even though they are supposed to be in places where shops owners and pub landlords can supervise them.

Experts are keen to build on the success of the ban on smoking in public places, introduced in England in July 2007, and the increase in the legal age to buy tobacco to 18.

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Amitjha

at 01:50 on December 9th, 2008

This kind of legislation will discourage the users, particularly the new entrants.recently indian government passed similar bill to ban smoking in public places but after the few days of enforcement situation is as used to be earlier.

mchawk

at 03:21 on December 9th, 2008

I'm getting sick to death of this nanny state we're living in. The hypocrisy of Westminster astounds me - they do all this anti-smoking legislation and then make a fortune off the tax. If they were really that concerned for our health, they'd ban cigs altogether.

Professor

at 08:36 on December 9th, 2008

TRUE mchawk: My friend has an EMPTY PLAIN PACKET [ NO GOV HEALTH WARNING ] into which he tranfers a New packet of Cigars each time!. I thought it very strange in seeing him do that HOWEVER on reflection HE being my age [ over 50's ] I then reasoned as to WHY?. He not being a CHILD he personally DISCARDED GOV TARGETING as to HIMSELF SINCE the GOV must point the finger CONTINUALLY at EVERYONE in Society through its OWN FAILURES to REMEDY MINORITY PROBLEMS such that ALL must suffer an INTOLERANCE at their hands!.