QUIT® joins 100 health groups in campaign to put tobacco out of sight to protect children
QUIT® is one of a hundred national, regional and local organisations and medical and scientific experts that have signed a full-page advertisement appearing in The Observer newspaper urging members of the House of Lords to vote to end tobacco displays in shops and ban sales of tobacco from vending machines.
The Report Stage of the Health Bill starts on 28th April and QUIT is urging the Lords to vote to put tobacco out of sight in order to protect children from the eye-catching tobacco displays that are often sited next to the sweet counters in corner shops.
Steve Crone, Chief Executive of QUIT, said: “These measures are an essential part of a comprehensive strategy to drive down smoking, particularly amongst young people. Two thirds of smokers take up the habit before they reach adulthood. Smoking is therefore an addiction of childhood, not an adult choice. The measures will not affect adult smokers’ right to choose whether or not to smoke but they will protect children from harm.
“These measures are not just supported by the health community. Opinion polls show that they are also popular with the public, who want more to be done to protect children from the harm caused by smoking.” |
