How we could make a difference
For years cigarette vending machines have been an easy source of
cigarettes for children in the UK. Around 23,000 11-15 year old
regular smokers get their cigarettes from vending machines in
England and Wales.
Lowering the number of child smokers in the UK is vital to public health since it’s estimated that one in five deaths from heart and circulatory disease are due to smoking. We wanted to change the law and stop children obtaining cigarettes this way.
How we did it
We ran a carefully coordinated campaign, designed to persuade politicians to
support a total ban on cigarette vending machines across England,
Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland.
We concentrated on Scotland first, organising briefings,
and lobbying MSPs. Success! In February 2009 the Scottish
Government announced their intention to introduce a ban.
We then turned the spotlight south: on pubs in the heart of Westminster.
We created an undercover video podcast in which two 14 year olds bought cigarettes without being challenged, showing politicians that the problem existed right on their own doorstep.
How we’ll progress
The intensive lobbying
and hard work paid off. A ban will now come into place in
England in October 2011. Governments in Wales and Northern Ireland
have also been given the power to change their position. Wonderful
news!