Lords vote to put tobacco out of sight of children
The House of Lords has chosen to put children’s health first by voting to put tobacco out of sight in shops across England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
The vote to end point of sale displays was won last night by an overwhelming majority of 204 to 110 votes, and will remove tobacco from its prominent position in shops where it is sold alongside sweets and crisps.
The move, supported by UK Faculty of Public Health (FPH) among over 100 other health and welfare organisations, will end one of the remaining loopholes in the ban on tobacco advertising and will protect children from tobacco industry marketing.
Dr Jennifer Mindell, FPH spokeswoman on tobacco and Clinical Senior Lecturer in Public Health, said:
"It is fantastic news that the House of Lords has decided to protect children from this conspicuous advertising of a lethal product. Almost all smokers start as children, thinking they can stop whenever they want. But far too soon, they find they are already addicted."
FPH is also delighted that the Government is going to evaluate the evidence on plain packaging as part of their tobacco control strategy, due to be published later this year.
Smoking continues to be a considerable risk to public’s health and FPH looks forward to working with other health organisations on further ways to protect children against its harmful effects.
For further information and interviews with FPH spokespeople, please contact FPH Press Officer Suvi Kingsley, 020 7935 3115/ 07939 897448 or .
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Notes to editors
- Once the Bill has passed through the Lords it has still to complete its passage through the Commons.
- Plain packaging means that the promotional aspects of tobacco packages are removed and their appearance is standardised. Except for the brand name, all other trademarks, logos, colour schemes and graphics would be prohibited. The package itself would be required to display only the product content information, consumer information and health warnings required under the law. (Department of Health. Consultation on the Future of Tobacco Control. 2008 http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Consultations/Liveconsultations/DH_085120)
- FPH is a member of Action on Smoking & Health (ASH). FPH has produced leaflets, posters and briefing statements to help raise awareness of the damaging impact second-hand smoke has on children’s health, together with ASH. FPH has also published a briefing statement on the effects of smoking on mental health. http://www.fph.org.uk/tobacco/
- UK Faculty of Public Health (FPH) is the leading professional body for public health specialists in the UK. It aims to promote and protect the health of the population, and improve health services, by maintaining professional and educational standards, advocating on key public health issues, and providing practical information and guidance for public health professionals. www.fph.org.uk
