Smoke 'em out!

The Government has taken a tough line on smoking – banning smoking in public places, and raising to 18 the age at which it is legal to buy tobacco products. In its defence, the Government can point to both success: smoking rates having fallen from 28% to 21% in the decade since 1998; and the ongoing tobacco-induced carnage as a prompt to further action: more than 80,000 die from smoking-related illnesses per year (which according to the Government is "more than alcohol, road traffic and other accidents, suicide, illegal drugs and diabetes combined").

The Health Bill before Parliament contains provision for more anti-smoking measures, and to coincide with it the Department of Health has opened a consultation on the implementation of the main proposals in the Bill: to restrict tobacco displays in shops and the sale of tobacco products in vending machines.

However, a rebel amendment from Ian McCartney MP has somewhat pre-empted half of the consultation's remit by introducing an outright ban of tobacco vending machines – which does seem a logical step, since you can't buy alcohol (also 18-rated) from vending machines, as Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) pointed out. Cancer Research UK also welcomed the move, their Chief Executive Harpal Kumar stating, "removing cigarette vending machines will help reduce the number of young people taking up a lethal addiction: tobacco kills half of all long term users".

Still, for consultation fans, you have until 4th January 2010 to have your say about the display of tobacco products in shops – about which the Government previously consulted in 2008. A YouGov survey at that time on behalf of anti-smoking campaigners ASH found that nearly 60% favoured banning tobacco displays in shops.

However, the plans have lined up another organisation against New Labour – though not necessarily one to join the progressive throng – the National Federation of Retail Newsagents (NFRN), a trade association representing over 32,000 independent newsagents and convenience stores. They are now threatening to boycott Labour at the General Election (join the queue!) unless the legislation is overturned. Just wait until age discrimination legislation stops their "no more than two schoolchildren" signs!

In the consultation document it states: "we firmly believe that small shops are at the heart of our communities and it is vital that we listen to shopkeepers to make sure that the regulations are workable and cost-effective in practice". Perhaps that is why the draft regulations proposed in the consultation to allow for the outlawing of tobacco displays will apply in large shops from October 2011, but newsagents will be given until October 2013.

While previous Governments have focused solely on price – which disproportionately hits the poorest – to deter smoking, this Government has also recognised the importance of changing the smoking culture (by outlawing it in pubs and clubs) and restricting advertisements. As the consultation document states, smoking "is the primary reason for the gap in healthy life expectancy between the rich and poor".