Cigarette machines set to be stubbed out

STRICT laws to ban cigarette machines within easy access to members of the public are now being prepared by St Helens Trading Standards Officers.

The law, which comes into force on Saturday, October 1, bans cigarette vending machines from being sited anywhere that they can be accessed by the public.

It was passed following strong lobbying by various groups and the Department of Health, which prompted Trading Standards to conduct checks to see how easy it was for under 18s to obtain tobacco from the machines.

A coordinated Trading Standards North West regional survey found that in more than 60 per cent of cases children were able to buy cigarettes from vending machines without being challenged.

In the most recent checks, St Helens Council’s Trading Standards Officers found that volunteer youngsters were able to purchase tobacco in six out of the ten premises checked.

Councillor Alison Bacon, Cabinet Member for Environmental Protection, said: “It’s well documented that people who start smoking in their early teens are more likely to continue to smoke throughout their adult life.”

Trading Standards Officers will be out checking all public cigarette vending machines are removed once the new law is in force.

Any business requiring any further information on the legal requirements of the law should contact St Helens Trading Standards on 676353.