Public Health Minister Michael Matheson supported the ban on display of cigarettes and tobacco products in large shops in Scotland recently. The sales of cigarettes from vending machines too been banned by the Tobacco and Primary Medical Services (Scotland) Act 2010.
Stores not complying with the order would attract penalties. Large stores in England, Wales and North Ireland too started following the legislations. Keeping in mind that 13,000 deaths have been caused and 56,000 people have been hospitalized because of Smoking and other tobacco related products, Mr Matheson believes that curtailing the promotion and display of tobacco would be crucial in stopping teenagers from taking up smoking.
In response, John Hammond, from the Scottish Grocers federation disagreed. He said these steps can’t influence bringing down the number of smokers or who wants to take up smoking.
The move had been braced by Cancer Research Scotland, but didn’t go down well with the Tobacco Retailers’ Alliance, which has more than 26,000 shopkeepers under its arm across the UK. Rebelliously, Hammond said that he stocks and sells cigarettes and would continue to do so. Small shops are given April 6, 2015 as the deadline to take the products off shelves.
Liberal Democrat MSP Jim Hume is thinking of implementing a ban on smoking in private vehicles when kids are present. This would prevent kids from becoming a passive smoker and can be offered a better future and longevity from the start.
