UK bans cigarette

Last year we discussed the Top 10 brain damaging habits, and we guess the UK government took it quite seriously and got new reforms for the better future of their upcoming newer generations.

Her Majesty’s Government here on Saturday announced to ban the sale and purchase of tobacco products at all the vending machines across United Kingdom, starting from Britain, and soon to be followed by others. A fine of £2,500 will be imposed on anyone caught selling cigarettes in machines.

According to the British Heart Foundation (BHF), around 200,000 young people start smoking regularly in England each year and 11% of 11- to 15-year-old regular smokers in England and Wales get their cigarettes from vending machines.

The charity, which has been campaigning for the ban to cut off the easy source of tobacco, said more than half (56%) of trading standards test purchases with under-age volunteers resulted in successful sales from vending machines in 2010/11.

A representative of The UK Department of Health said, “the ban had been introduced to prevent under-age sales to children and to support adults who were trying to quit”. The rest of the UK is expected to implement a similar ban next year.

Betty McBride, director of policy and communications at the British Heart Foundation said, “These children are often blissfully unaware of the damage smoking does to their health, and by the time they realise, they’re hooked.”

As the gesture is very applauded by the charity organizations, environment agencies and other news sources, pub lords are seen unhappy and biased at the decision of the government.

Update: Before April 2012, large retailers in England and Scotland will have to get rid of all tobacco displays. Small shops will be expected to comply with the new reform from April 2015.