Plaid AM welcomes powers to limit point of sale tobacco displays
Moves to try and discourage children from starting smoking in Wales have been welcomed by Plaid AM Dr. Dai Lloyd.
The Swansea-based AM and part-time GP has been pushing for greater powers over the display of tobacco products at the point of sale.
In response to questioning by Dr. Lloyd in the Assembly Chamber, Health Minister Edwin Hart has now confirmed that regulation-making powers on display of tobacco products at the point of sale and the regulation or prohibition of cigarette vending machines will be devolved to Welsh Ministers under the Health Bill 2009.
This would give the Welsh Assembly the powers to possibly change the way in which tobacco products are presented for sale.
Dr. Lloyd stated:
“I very much welcome the news that the powers over display of tobacco products will be devolved to Welsh Assembly Ministers.
“It is a sad fact that thousands of children in Wales are taking up the habit on an annual basis.
“We could possibly see the removal of cigarette displays in shops and preventing underage access to vending machines which would put children and young people at the forefront of the next tobacco control strategy.
“There is significant support for removing tobacco displays in shops, and tough action to restrict access to vending machines. Since the ban on tobacco advertising, retail displays in shops are the main way in which tobacco products are marketed to children.”
Over eight in ten adults in Great Britain who have ever smoked regularly say that they started before they were 19.
Dr. Lloyd added:
“Children are 3 times more likely to die of cancer due to smoking than someone who starts in their mid-20s.
“Points of sale displays have already been removed in a number of countries, including Canada. Results compiled by the Canadian Tobacco Use Monitoring Survey shows that removing point of sale display has coincided with a fall in smoking prevalence rates amongst 15 to 19 year olds - from 29 per cent in 2002 to 19 per cent in 2007.
“In Europe, a number of countries, including Belgium and France have banned tobacco sales from vending machines.
“This is something that we in Wales should be following. Far too many people in Wales are dying due to the habit.”
