Cancer tsar: Ban cigarette machines
Monday, 03 Dec 2007 14:17
Government cancer tsar Professor Mike Richards believes that banning cigarette vending machines will help in the fight against cancer.
Speaking on the day the government launched its Cancer Reform Strategy, Professor Richards said such a move would help reduce cancer rates in Britain.
The proposed ban is due to be considered within a consultation paper next year, the government confirmed today, along with the issue of sunbed usage.
Professor Richards told the Today programme that Britain had made "good progress on smoking over the past few years".
"The proportion of adult smoking has fallen from 28 per cent to 24 per cent [since 1998], we have now got the smokefree legislation as well, which will give further benefits, but we need to go even further," he said.
"We do need to look at the question of vending machines, displays at the point of sale, packaging, and we need to take further action because smoking still does cause about one third of all cancer deaths."
Asked whether he personally would vote for a complete ban on vending machines, he responded: "Personally, yes I would."
The government has promised to invest £370 million into cancer care by 2010 in an effort to fund preventive campaigns and improve long-term patient provision.
