http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8303975.stm

Parliament's surprisingly consistent on this matter

We will protect your health.. no matter the cost, no matter your choice. You will be healthy.
So shall it be written so shall it be done.

You don't have to be over 18 to use a vending machine if nobody is watching. If this helps to stop the micro-chavs from wandering the streets with a fag in their hand then all the better.

How dare they try to stop people killing themselves?!

How dare they try to promote healthy living?!

How dare they try to remove the foul smelling odour that seems to linger outside every office building, hospital and pub in the country?!

How dare they...



How about we satisfy your needs then and put guns in vending machines? It's everyone's own decision as to whether they buy one or not. I'm sure that gun related crime won't increase as people are sensible enough not to buy them...

Let em buy cigs if they want.
Huge tax revenues and they'll be dead before they can draw a pension.

I don't mind that bit. If someone is already hooked then moving the cigs ain't gonna stop them smoking.

This will hopefully stop young kids from starting and hopefully fewer people will get addicted in the first place.

To be honest I can see the point of banning the machines as there's no ID check. But making shops pay to change their fag layout etc is a bit silly.

OK so they ban smoking and people give up.

Where is the money going to come from that the tax from smoking generates??

It's going to come from the pockets of all the workers in the country, smokers and non smokers.

Here you have to use your ID card or bank card to verify your age, before you can buy cigarettes from vending machines.

er I dont think I advocated having guns in vending machines but now you mention it

There is a world of difference between promoting and educating people to influence them in a posative way and forcing people. All the research indicates that educating people gives you higher gains than the blunt sledgehammer approach

Id systems can easily be implimented on vending machines thus negating the chance "children" may accidently be suddenly overcome by the urge to buy ciggies.
As for the plans to put cigs "under the counter", well the phrase "the path way to hell is paved with good intentions". Massive increase to the cost of small/smaller newsagents almost certainly leading to the closure of a large amounts of them. Increase theft from premises. Increase smuggling and counterfeit cigs leading to more gaps in the tax pot.

Yes but here the government would demand that data so they can track you.

Aside from painkillers & non-prescription medication, bleach/cleaning products, alcohol, fuel and knives?

What a muppet.

I have only noticed the cig vending machines in some pubs and clubs, I think there are worse things going on if under 18's are using them to buy some cigarettes

We don't have ID cards here because we would rather have to present a recent utility bill, a driving license and a passport every time someone asks us for identification...

Try as you might, you won't get a council tax bill or a passport to fit into the vending machine. We have photocard driving licenses now, but they're no use without the paper part...