An amendment to yesterday’s final Commons reading of the Health Bill signed by Dartford MP, Dr Howard Stoate, looks set to pave the way for a complete ban on cigarette vending machines.

Dr Stoate was one of three MPs to sign Ian McCartney MP’s amendment to the bill that will have the effect of banning the machines outright. The amendment was passed last night without a vote and now looks set to become law after Ministers confirmed that they will not oppose it when the bill reaches the House of Lords.

The original bill tabled by Ministers merely proposed to restrict access to tobacco vending machines in pubs. It would have compelled bar staff to check the age of someone wanting to buy cigarettes before operating the machine with a remote control. Landlords claimed that this would be unworkable whilst health campaigners complained that the measure didn’t go far enough.

Dr Stoate, who also campaigned hard for a ban on smoking in pubs and clubs two years ago, was delighted by last night’s outcome.

“Banning cigarette vending machines will make it much harder for children and young teenagers to get hold of cigarettes. No other age related product is available in this way through a vending machine and it is high time we put an end to the practice. With the age at which you can buy cigarettes now up at 18, more and more underage smokers are resorting to vending machines in order to get hold of cigarettes. Over the last three years nearly 50,000 11-15 year olds who smoke regularly have accessed cigarettes through vending machines.”

“I’m delighted therefore that our amendment was carried and I look forward to it becoming law in the very near future. It’ll help to stop thousands of children and young teenagers taking up smoking and in doing so causing irreparable damage to their health.”

Notes

MPs, including Dr Stoate, also voted to ban the display of cigarettes in shops in yesterday’s final reading of the Health Bill.

The other MPs to sign Ian McCartney’s amendment were Kevin Barron MP and Bob Russell MP.