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| Cigarette sales overhaul planned | Cigarette sales overhaul planned |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| A major overhaul of the way cigarettes are packaged and sold - including banning branding and logos - is being proposed by the government. | |
| The plan, aimed at preventing children and young people smoking, could also see packets of 10 outlawed, and cigarette vending machines banned. | |
| Most of the plan applies to England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Similar plans have been unveiled in Scotland. | |
| Meanwhile, a new TV advert campaign is targeting parents who smoke. | |
| The adverts warn that children of smokers are three times more likely to take up the habit than those of non-smokers. | |
| Parents warned | Parents warned |
| The Department of Health says point-of-sale advertising can encourage young people to start smoking, so it is suggesting putting cigarettes below the counter in future. | |
| Protecting children from smoking is a government priority and taking away temptation is one way to do this Dawn PrimaroloPublic Health Minister | Protecting children from smoking is a government priority and taking away temptation is one way to do this Dawn PrimaroloPublic Health Minister |
| It also suggests the introduction of plain packaging for cigarettes, carrying only the product name in standard lettering. | It also suggests the introduction of plain packaging for cigarettes, carrying only the product name in standard lettering. |
| Other ideas being mooted in the paper, which will go out for a three-month consultation, include a ban on advertising for "smoking paraphernalia" such as cigarette papers. | Other ideas being mooted in the paper, which will go out for a three-month consultation, include a ban on advertising for "smoking paraphernalia" such as cigarette papers. |
| Pack sizes could also be restricted to a minimum of 20. | Pack sizes could also be restricted to a minimum of 20. |
| The consultation paper will be published in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. It applies in its entirety to England, and certain sections apply to Wales and Northern Ireland. | |
| Last week the Scottish Government announced a range of proposals to restrict tobacco sales in Scotland - including a ban in shops from displaying cigarettes in "pride of place" on their shelves. | |
| On the latest consultation document, Public Health Minister Dawn Primarolo said it was vital to take away temptation from children. | |
| "Protecting children from smoking is a government priority and taking away temptation is one way to do this," she said. | "Protecting children from smoking is a government priority and taking away temptation is one way to do this," she said. |
| "If banning brightly coloured packets, removing cigarettes from display and removing the cheap option of a pack of 10 helps save lives, then that is what we should do, but we want to hear everyone's views first." | "If banning brightly coloured packets, removing cigarettes from display and removing the cheap option of a pack of 10 helps save lives, then that is what we should do, but we want to hear everyone's views first." |
| 'Tobacco trap' | 'Tobacco trap' |
| Martin Dockrell, from the anti-smoking group Action on Smoking and Health (Ash), said: "These sorts of measures are not going to have an overnight effect, but we think they will over time." | Martin Dockrell, from the anti-smoking group Action on Smoking and Health (Ash), said: "These sorts of measures are not going to have an overnight effect, but we think they will over time." |
| A YouGov poll commissioned by Ash of 3,330 people found that 65% supported a complete ban on cigarette vending machines, while 43% favoured the introduction of plain packaging. | A YouGov poll commissioned by Ash of 3,330 people found that 65% supported a complete ban on cigarette vending machines, while 43% favoured the introduction of plain packaging. |
| Dr Vivienne Nathanson, from the British Medical Association, which represents doctors, said: "It is essential that cigarettes are made more inaccessible to children. As far as vending machines go, the simple solution is to make them credit card operated - then children can't use them Neil Rafferty, Forest | Dr Vivienne Nathanson, from the British Medical Association, which represents doctors, said: "It is essential that cigarettes are made more inaccessible to children. As far as vending machines go, the simple solution is to make them credit card operated - then children can't use them Neil Rafferty, Forest |
| "We need to break the tobacco trap. Young smokers will become tomorrow's parents who smoke and they will continue the cycle of smoking-related ill-health and premature death." | "We need to break the tobacco trap. Young smokers will become tomorrow's parents who smoke and they will continue the cycle of smoking-related ill-health and premature death." |
| But pro-smoking organisation Forest warned that banning point-of-sale display could make smoking even more attractive to teenagers, and could increase the appeal of counterfeit and smuggled cigarettes. | But pro-smoking organisation Forest warned that banning point-of-sale display could make smoking even more attractive to teenagers, and could increase the appeal of counterfeit and smuggled cigarettes. |
| Spokesman Neil Rafferty said: "In one Canadian province, youth smoking actually went up in the first 18 months after a display ban was introduced. | Spokesman Neil Rafferty said: "In one Canadian province, youth smoking actually went up in the first 18 months after a display ban was introduced. |
| "As far as vending machines go, the simple solution is to make them credit card operated - then children can't use them.Similar proposals were suggested for Scotland last week | "As far as vending machines go, the simple solution is to make them credit card operated - then children can't use them.Similar proposals were suggested for Scotland last week |
| "And banning packs of 10 is the stupidest idea of all. | "And banning packs of 10 is the stupidest idea of all. |
| "If children can afford two packs of 10 every week, then they can afford one pack of 20. | "If children can afford two packs of 10 every week, then they can afford one pack of 20. |
| "And it's like banning small chocolate bars - if you buy the big one, will you leave half? No you'll eat the lot, just like you'll smoke the lot. | "And it's like banning small chocolate bars - if you buy the big one, will you leave half? No you'll eat the lot, just like you'll smoke the lot. |
| "It also means that adult smokers who are trying to cut down by buying packs of 10 are not going to have that chance." | "It also means that adult smokers who are trying to cut down by buying packs of 10 are not going to have that chance." |
| The retail sector has also expressed concerns about the potential impact of the measures on trade. | The retail sector has also expressed concerns about the potential impact of the measures on trade. |
| Harpal Kumar, Cancer Research UK's chief executive, said it was not only children who needed help: "Any new tobacco control plan should also aim to support current smokers, particularly people from the most disadvantaged communities. | Harpal Kumar, Cancer Research UK's chief executive, said it was not only children who needed help: "Any new tobacco control plan should also aim to support current smokers, particularly people from the most disadvantaged communities. |
| "For all those that are trapped by their tobacco addiction, we hope to see more help for people who want to quit so they can succeed." | "For all those that are trapped by their tobacco addiction, we hope to see more help for people who want to quit so they can succeed." |