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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Cigarette display ban considered | Cigarette display ban considered |
| (about 6 hours later) | |
| Displaying cigarettes in shops could be banned in England under government plans being considered to cut smoking and discourage children from starting. | |
| Ministers are also considering tougher controls on vending machines in pubs and restaurants. | Ministers are also considering tougher controls on vending machines in pubs and restaurants. |
| A public consultation due to start within months will call for the public's opinions on these issues. | A public consultation due to start within months will call for the public's opinions on these issues. |
| Public Health Minister Dawn Primarolo said it was "vital" to teach children that "smoking is bad". | Public Health Minister Dawn Primarolo said it was "vital" to teach children that "smoking is bad". |
| "If that means stripping out vending machines or removing cigarettes from behind the counter, I'm willing to do that," she said. | "If that means stripping out vending machines or removing cigarettes from behind the counter, I'm willing to do that," she said. |
| Ms Primarolo stressed: "Children who smoke are putting their lives at risk and are more likely to die of cancer than people who start smoking later." | Ms Primarolo stressed: "Children who smoke are putting their lives at risk and are more likely to die of cancer than people who start smoking later." |
| The measures could effectively force the sale of cigarettes and tobacco products under the counter in convenience shops and supermarkets. | The measures could effectively force the sale of cigarettes and tobacco products under the counter in convenience shops and supermarkets. |
| Young smokers | Young smokers |
| Measures that make it easier to sell nicotine replacement gums and patches are also under consideration. | Measures that make it easier to sell nicotine replacement gums and patches are also under consideration. |
| HAVE YOUR SAYEither ban cigarettes entirely (and deal with the loss to the treasury) or don't, but enough with demonising smokers. Ebon_bear, Stoke-on-TrentSend us your commentsThe Department of Health, which is keen to prevent youngsters from smoking, has cited research which suggests that someone who starts smoking at the age of 15 is three times more likely to die of cancer due to smoking than someone who starts in their late 20s. | HAVE YOUR SAYEither ban cigarettes entirely (and deal with the loss to the treasury) or don't, but enough with demonising smokers. Ebon_bear, Stoke-on-TrentSend us your commentsThe Department of Health, which is keen to prevent youngsters from smoking, has cited research which suggests that someone who starts smoking at the age of 15 is three times more likely to die of cancer due to smoking than someone who starts in their late 20s. |
| The consideration of the proposed measures come after this year's Budget in which Chancellor Alistair Darling increased the duty on tobacco, adding 11p to the price of a packet of 20 cigarettes and 4p to the price of five cigars. | The consideration of the proposed measures come after this year's Budget in which Chancellor Alistair Darling increased the duty on tobacco, adding 11p to the price of a packet of 20 cigarettes and 4p to the price of five cigars. |
| The chancellor also said the government was continuing the 5% reduced rate of VAT on smoking cessation products beyond 30 June. | The chancellor also said the government was continuing the 5% reduced rate of VAT on smoking cessation products beyond 30 June. |
| A ban on smoking in public places and workplaces in England came into force last July. | A ban on smoking in public places and workplaces in England came into force last July. |
| Bans were introduced in Scotland in 2006, and in Wales and Northern Ireland in 2007. | Bans were introduced in Scotland in 2006, and in Wales and Northern Ireland in 2007. |