Cigarette vending machines to be banned

Health Minister, Edwin Poots has announced regulations to ban the sale of tobacco products from vending machines in Northern Ireland from 1 March 2012.
~ Tuesday, 17 January 2012

The Assembly agreed to the regulations during a debate this afternoon. The measure has been brought in to drive down the number of children and young people who smoke.

Speaking to MLAs, the Minister said: “A survey in Northern Ireland in 2010, highlights that for 14% of smokers aged between 11 and 16 years, cigarette vending machines are a usual source of tobacco. Children and young people are particularly vulnerable consumers in that they are generally unaware of the long-term health implications of tobacco use.

“The main aim in introducing the legislation is to prevent children and young people from being able to access tobacco from a largely unsupervised source. These regulations will also bring Northern Ireland into line with the rest of the UK."

The regulations will be enforced from 1 March. England commenced its ban on sales of tobacco from vending machines from 1 October 2011. Regulations have also been made in Wales to commence from 1 February 2012 and Scotland intends to follow suit shortly.

The Minister continued: “I recognise that banning the sale of tobacco from vending machines will not, in itself, solve the problem of children’s smoking. However it will remove an easily accessible source of tobacco from underage children, as well as support the thousands of smokers who try to quit each year. This links in with the two main objectives in my Department's new tobacco control strategy which is due to be published later this month.

“These regulations represent another important milestone in our pursuance of the long-term goal – that of a tobacco-free society in Northern Ireland.”

Notes to editors:

1. The Minister’s statement to the Assembly can be found on the DHSSPS website

2. The enforcement of legislative controls on tobacco is the responsibility of District Councils’ Environmental Health Officers.

3. It is estimated that there are approximately 1,800 tobacco vending machines in Northern Ireland.

4. The decision by the Department to introduce new tobacco control legislation was first announced in February 2009. Assembly agreement was obtained in March 2009 to the extension of tobacco provisions contained in the Westminster Health Act 2009 to Northern Ireland.

5. Media enquiries about this press release to DHSSPS Press Office on 028 9052 0567, or out of office hours contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 07699 715 440 and your call will be returned.