Well that's gonna stop them!

[Just One More]

Cigarette display ban considered  
 
The plans are being considered to dissuade children from smoking  
Displaying cigarettes in shops could be banned under government plans being considered in a bid to reduce smoking and discourage children from starting.
Ministers are also considering tougher controls on vending machines in pubs and restaurants.

A public consultation due to start within months will call for the public's opinions on these issues.

Public Health Minister Dawn Primarolo said it was "vital" to teach children that "smoking is bad".

"If that means stripping out vending machines or removing cigarettes from behind the counter, I'm willing to do that," she said.

Ms Primarolo stressed: "Children who smoke are putting their lives at risk and are more likely to die of cancer than people who start smoking later."

The measures could effectively force the sale of cigarettes and tobacco products under the counter in convenience shops and supermarkets.

Young smokers

Measures that make it easier to sell nicotine replacement gums and patches are also under consideration.


HAVE YOUR SAY Either ban cigarettes entirely (and deal with the loss to the treasury) or don't, but enough with demonising smokers.
Ebon_bear, Stoke-on-Trent
Send us your commentsThe Department of Health, which is keen to prevent youngsters from smoking, has cited research which suggests that someone who starts smoking at the age of 15 is three times more likely to die of cancer due to smoking than someone who starts in their late 20s.
The consideration of the proposed measures come after this year's Budget in which Chancellor Alistair Darling increased the duty on tobacco, adding 11p to the price of a packet of 20 cigarettes and 4p to the price of five cigars.

The chancellor also said the government was continuing the 5% reduced rate of VAT on smoking cessation products beyond 30 June.

A ban on smoking in public places and workplaces in England came into force last July.

Bans were introduced in Scotland in 2006, and in Wales and Northern Ireland in 2007.

Source = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7310884.stm

Well hiding them below the counter is really going to stop them. I mean, kids have such a struggle to get hold of other banned drugs that aren't even hidden below the counter  

Meantime, the government will continue to cream off there duty on it, I see the article says a packet have gone up 11p in the recent budget. I can't find a definitive figure, but I believe that tax makes up 90% of the price of a packet, a nice little earner if ever there was one



 

[Snoopy]

So typically nu labour ~ half baked, ineffective but panders to the prejudices of their members. They are determined to control every minute detail of our lives.

[Barman]

So typically nu labour ~ half baked, ineffective but panders to the predujices of their members. They are determined to control every minute detail of our lives.

I think we have passed the point where this is laughable… as you say they really do want to control everything everybody (apart from them and theirs of course) does… 

I wish they’d forget about it and have a go at bailing the country out… 

[grumpyoldsoldier]

The day cometh... a man in a raincoat, furtively lurking in the porn mag section of his local papeshop, sidles up to the counter and in a low whisper says, "20 Benson and Hedges please". Shopkeeper glances around and slips a pack of 20 into a brown paper bag, man leaves hurriedly without waiting for change

[Barman]

The day cometh... a man in a raincoat, furtively lurking in the porn mag section of his local papeshop, sidles up to the counter and in a low whisper says, "20 Benson and Hedges please". Shopkeeper glances around and slips a pack of 20 into a brown paper bag, man leaves hurriedly without waiting for change

No...

The day cometh... a man in a raincoat, furtively lurking in the porn mag section of his local papeshop, sidles up to the counter and in a low whisper says, "20 Benson and Hedges please". Shopkeeper glances around and slips a pack of 20 into a rolled up copy of 'Razzle Reader's Wives Special Edition', man leaves hurriedly without waiting for change... 

[Snoopy]

The day cometh... a man in a raincoat, furtively lurking in the porn mag section of his local papeshop, sidles up to the counter and in a low whisper says, "20 Benson and Hedges please". Shopkeeper glances around and slips a pack of 20 into a brown paper bag, man leaves hurriedly without waiting for change

No...

The day cometh... a man in a raincoat, furtively lurking in the porn mag section of his local papeshop, sidles up to the counter and in a low whisper says, "20 Benson and Hedges please". Shopkeeper glances around and slips a pack of 20 into a rolled up copy of 'Razzle Reader's Wives Special Edition', man leaves hurriedly without waiting for change... 

Oh you've used that shop too BM....

[Barman]

The day cometh... a man in a raincoat, furtively lurking in the porn mag section of his local papeshop, sidles up to the counter and in a low whisper says, "20 Benson and Hedges please". Shopkeeper glances around and slips a pack of 20 into a brown paper bag, man leaves hurriedly without waiting for change

No...

The day cometh... a man in a raincoat, furtively lurking in the porn mag section of his local papeshop, sidles up to the counter and in a low whisper says, "20 Benson and Hedges please". Shopkeeper glances around and slips a pack of 20 into a rolled up copy of 'Razzle Reader's Wives Special Edition', man leaves hurriedly without waiting for change... 

Oh you've used that shop too BM....

Indeed... 

[Mr Happy]

The day cometh... a man in a raincoat, furtively lurking in the chocolate section of his local recycled papershop, sidles up to the counter and in a low whisper says, "£5 on my electric meter". Shopkeeper glances around the credit is put into an organic wholewheat cabbage leaf bag, man leaves hurriedly without waiting for change

[Grumpmeister]

Maybe I'm missing something here but where is the government going to make up the shortfall in income when it loses millions in VAT on cigarettes once everyone has been forced to quit? 

[Snoopy]

They'll simply find another way of extracting it from our pockets 

[Barman]

Maybe I'm missing something here but where is the government going to make up the shortfall in income when it loses millions in VAT on cigarettes once everyone has been forced to quit? 

That’s the beauty of the whole thing! Nobody will quit because of it… 

1)   Issue headline grabbing ‘policy statement’
2)   Meeja jump on statement, ignoring shite state of country
3)   Bury it with another statement in a few weeks
4)   Business as normal

 

[Grumpmeister]

In other words they will nab it from everyone not just those who decide to take up the habit Snoops.

[TG]

Prohibition!

The yanks tried it and forked it up. We of course would get it right under a firm government hand.

Close the pubs! Burn down the offies!

Lets all take the pledge! After me lads :

Ah-one Ah-two Ah-three - Onward Christian soldiers marching as to war... 

[Barman]

Prohibition!

The yanks tried it and forked it up. We of course would get it right under a firm government hand.

Close the pubs! Burn down the offies!

Lets all take the pledge! After me lads :

Ah-one Ah-two Ah-three - Onward Christian soldiers marching as to war... 

[Snoopy]

Prohibition!

The yanks tried it and forked it up. We of course would get it right under a firm government hand.

Close the pubs! Burn down the offies!

Lets all take the pledge! After me lads :

Ah-one Ah-two Ah-three - Onward Christian soldiers marching as to war... 

'ere Knuckles .... throw that bum out!