Tobacco and Primary Medical Services (Scotland) Bill - Vending Machines
What
The Bill will ban the sale of tobacco from vending machines.
When
The Scottish Government is keen to introduce this measure as soon as possible. However, Ministers will consult with affected companies before taking any firm decision.
Why
Whilst cigarettes sold from vending machines account for less than one per cent sold of Scottish sales, roughly 10 per cent of under-18s report purchasing cigarettes from vending machines.
Selling tobacco from a self service device such as a vending machine no longer sits comfortably with the Scottish Government's public health standpoint. It is inconceivable that other dangerous age-restricted products such as fireworks, alcohol and solvents would be made available from vending machines.
Consultation
Over 85 per cent of the 83,000 respondents to the recent Department of Health consultation expressed a preference for prohibiting the sale of tobacco products from vending machines.
Cost
Any company operating or distributing tobacco vending machines would be affected by a ban. There would be no cost to the public purse.
Background
It estimated that between 36 and 39 million cigarettes are sold through some 6,552 vending machines which are situated in Scotland. The cigarette vending machine market has been in sharp decline since 2006.
In the most recent surveys one in 10 of regular smokers aged 13 and 15 reported buying from cigarette vending machines accounting for some 14.2 million cigarettes annually, which constitutes roughly 36 - 40 per cent of the vending machine market.
Sources:
Consultation on the future of tobacco control: consultation report: December 2008
Scottish Schools Adolescent Lifestyle and Substance Use Survey (SALSUS) - National Report 2008