Parliament votes for cigarette vending machine ban

11 November 2009

The British Heart Foundation campaign to ban cigarette vending machines has secured a major victory, thanks to the support of our campaigners.

The government was initially in favour of only putting restrictions on vending machines, but we believed this did not go far enough.

The House of Commons and the House of Lords have now voted for a full ban on cigarette vending machines in England.

Peter Hollins, Chief Executive at the British Heart Foundation, said;

"The Commons must be congratulated on voting to make cigarette vending machines extinct in the face of tobacco lobbyists who are intent on making addicts of a new generation of youngsters.

"For too long vending machines have been an easy source of cigarettes for children and a gateway to a lifetime of addiction and future heart disease. This policy must now be carried out across the UK to protect children’s heart health."

The Welsh Assembly and Northern Ireland Assembly now have the opportunity to vote for a ban as well. Scotland's recent Tobacco Bill included a full ban on cigarette vending machines, and we are still campaigning hard to make it law.