Minister announces new tobacco control measures

Health Minister, Michael McGimpsey has today confirmed plans to remove cigarette displays in shops and prevent underage access to vending machines.

The move is a further step aimed at reducing the level of smoking amongst children and young people in Northern Ireland and reflects plans recently announced in England and Wales.

Northern Ireland was included in the Department of Health (London) consultation on future tobacco controls in May 2008. The proposals to remove tobacco displays in shops, and for tough action to restrict access to vending machines, received strong support.

Confirming the proposals, the Minister said: "Following the introduction of the ban on advertising and promotion of tobacco, retail displays have grown in size and prominence. Research has shown that young people are particularly susceptible to tobacco marketing at point of sale and are more likely to take up smoking as a result of exposure to such marketing. I feel that it is time to put a stop to this.

“My goal is to protect children from smoking and I believe that this is a strong opportunity to do just that. Smoking is a life-threatening habit and we should do everything we can to reduce its prevalence."

If the plans go ahead, the Department and local councils will work with relevant organisations in order to provide support, and to minimise any burden on business.

The Minister continued: “The new measures will also impact on vending machines which are currently a common and easily accessible source of cigarettes for young people. I plan to use the change in legislation to further restrict access to these machines by those aged under 18.”

Commenting on the wider impact of the measure the Minister concluded: “Whilst the proposed changes will primarily benefit children and young people, they will also help those adults who are trying to quit. Following the introduction of smoke-free legislation, we have enjoyed some success of late with over 21,000 people setting a quit date through smoking cessation services in 2007/08 and this is something I wish to build upon.”

The proposals have been endorsed by the Northern Ireland Executive. The Minister will now seek the approval of the Assembly in due course by means of a Legislative Consent Motion. It is hoped that the new measures will come into effect in Northern Ireland in 2010.

Notes to Editors:

1. A survey carried out in 2006/07 demonstrated that three quarters of adult smokers in Northern Ireland started in their teens. In 2007, almost 9% of children aged between 11 and 16 were regular smokers. These children are three times more likely to die of cancer due to smoking than someone who starts in their mid-twenties.

2. A summary of responses to the Department of Health (London) consultation is available for download. A summary of the Northern Ireland responses can be found on the DHSSPS website

Tobacco displays

3. The new powers would remove cigarette displays in shops which promote smoking to young people, prompt impulse purchases of cigarettes and undermine smokers' efforts to quit.

4. Across the world, an increasing number of governments have either taken action to prohibit the display of tobacco products, or have plans to do so, including Iceland, Thailand, Canada and Australia. Where other countries have removed displays, smoking prevalence among young people has fallen by up to 10%.

Vending machines

5. Powers will be sought to require age restrictions to limit easy access to young people and to remove machines altogether if they continue to provide cigarettes to people underage.

6. Vending machines are the primary source of cigarettes for nearly one in five young people aged 11 to 15, compared to one in 17 adults (England and Wales). The British Heart Foundation estimates that 46,000 children purchased their cigarettes from vending machines in 2006.

7. There are a number of ways in which access to tobacco from vending machines can be limited including electronic age verification, ID coin mechanism and infra-red remote control. Each involves proof of age being supplied before being obtaining tobacco products.

8. A number of counties across the world have completely banned tobacco sales from vending machines. These include Vietnam, China, Russia, Singapore, Thailand, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Estonia, France, Hungry, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia.

9. Press enquiries to the DHSSPS Press Office on 028 9052 0575. Out of hours please contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 07699 715 440 and your call will be returned.